Psalm 64

Prayer for Protection from Enemies

To the leader. A Psalm of David.
¹Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint;
   preserve my life from the dread enemy.
²Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked,
   from the scheming of evildoers,
³who whet their tongues like swords,
   who aim bitter words like arrows,
⁴shooting from ambush at the blameless;
   they shoot suddenly and without fear.
⁵They hold fast to their evil purpose;
   they talk of laying snares secretly,
thinking, ‘Who can see us?^*
6   Who can search out our crimes?^*
We have thought out a cunningly conceived plot.’
   For the human heart and mind are deep.

⁷But God will shoot his arrow at them;
   they will be wounded suddenly.
⁸Because of their tongue he will bring them to ruin;^*
   all who see them will shake with horror.
⁹Then everyone will fear;
   they will tell what God has brought about,
   and ponder what he has done.

¹⁰Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord
   and take refuge in him.
Let all the upright in heart glory.

Psalm 65

Thanksgiving for Earth’s Bounty

To the leader. A Psalm of David. A Song.
¹Praise is due to you,
   O God, in Zion;
and to you shall vows be performed,
²   O you who answer prayer!
To you all flesh shall come.
³When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us,
   you forgive our transgressions.
⁴Happy are those whom you choose and bring near
   to live in your courts.
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
   your holy temple.

⁵By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance,
   O God of our salvation;
you are the hope of all the ends of the earth
   and of the farthest seas.
⁶By your^* strength you established the mountains;
   you are girded with might.
⁷You silence the roaring of the seas,
   the roaring of their waves,
   the tumult of the peoples.
⁸Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs;
you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.

⁹You visit the earth and water it,
   you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
   you provide the people with grain,
   for so you have prepared it.
¹⁰You water its furrows abundantly,
   settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
   and blessing its growth.
¹¹You crown the year with your bounty;
   your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
¹²The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
   the hills gird themselves with joy,
¹³the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
   the valleys deck themselves with grain,
   they shout and sing together for joy.