Tehillim 64 - Chapter 64 - Psalm 64

Lamnatsêach mizmor ledavid
Shemá Elohim coli vessichi, mipachad oiev titsor chaiai
Tastirêni missod mereim, merigshat pôale áven
Asher shanenu chachérev leshonam, darechu chitsam davar mar
Lirot bamistarim tam, pit’om iorúhu velo yiráu
Iechazecú lámo davar rá, iessaperú litmon mokeshim, ameru mi yir’e lámo
Iachpessu olót tamnu chéfes mechupas, vekérev ish velev amoc
Vaiorem Elohim, chets pit’om haiu macotam
Vaiach’shilúhu alêmo leshonam, yitnodedu col roe vam
Vayireu col adam, vaiaguídu pôal Elohim umaassehu hiskilu
Yismach tsadic badonai vechassa vo, veyit’halelú col yishrê lev

1. To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
2. Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer; preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
3. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the tumult of the evil doers;
4. Who whet their tongue like a sword, and aim bitter words like arrows.
5. To shoot from ambush at the blameless; suddenly they shoot at him, without fear.
6. They encourage one another in an evil matter; they talk of laying snares secretly; they say, Who shall see them?
7. They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search; both the inward thought of man, and the heart, is deep.
8. But God shoots his arrows at them; suddenly they shall be wounded.
9. So they make their own tongue a stumbling to themselves; all who see them shall shake their head.
10. And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.
11. The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

When crossing a river

The masters of homiletics interpret this psalm as alluding to Daniel, who was thrown into the lion's den. With divine inspiration, David foresaw the event and prayed for him. Daniel was a descendant of David, as can be inferred from God's statement to Hezekiah (himself of Davidic lineage), "And from your children, who will issue forth from you, they will take, and they (referring to, amongst others, Daniel) will be ministers in the palace of the king of Babylon."