The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 For the leader. A psalm of David: Hear my voice, God, as I plead: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
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<To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David.> O God, let the voice of my grief come to your ear: keep my life from the fear of those who are against me.
2 Hide me from the secret intrigues of the wicked and the open insurrection of evildoers.
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Keep me safe from the secret purpose of wrongdoers; from the band of the workers of evil;
3 They sharpen their tongues like a sword; they aim their arrows, poisoned words,
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Who make their tongues sharp like a sword, and whose arrows are pointed, even bitter words;
4 in order to shoot from cover at the innocent, shooting suddenly and fearing nothing.
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So that in secret they may let loose their arrows at the upright, suddenly and unseen.
5 They support each other's evil plans; they talk of hiding snares and ask, "Who would see them?"
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They make themselves strong in an evil purpose; they make holes for secret nets; they say, Who will see it,
6 They search for ways to commit crimes, bringing their diligent search to completion when each of them has thought it through in the depth of his heart.
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Or make discovery of our secret purpose? The design is framed with care; and the inner thought of a man, and his heart, is deep.
7 Suddenly God shoots them down with an arrow, leaving them with wounds;
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But God sends out an arrow against them; suddenly they are wounded.
8 their own tongues make them stumble. All who see them shake their heads.
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The evil of their tongues is the cause of their fall; all those who see them are shaking their heads at them.
9 Everyone is awestruck they acknowledge that it is God at work, they understand what he has done.
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And in fear men make public the works of God; and giving thought to his acts they get wisdom.
10 The righteous will rejoice in ADONAI; they will take refuge in him; all the upright in heart will exult.
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The upright will be glad in the Lord and have hope in him; and all the lovers of righteousness will give him glory.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.