1 Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; ♦
preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, ♦
from the gathering of evildoers.
3 They sharpen their tongue like a sword ♦
and aim their bitter words like arrows,
4 That they may shoot at the blameless from hiding places; ♦
suddenly they shoot, and are not seen.
5 They hold fast to their evil course; ♦
they talk of laying snares, saying, ‘Who will see us?’
6 They search out wickedness and lay a cunning trap, ♦
for deep are the inward thoughts of the heart.
7 But God will shoot at them with his swift arrow, ♦
and suddenly they shall be wounded.
8 Their own tongues shall make them fall, ♦
and all who see them shall wag their heads in scorn.
9 All peoples shall fear and tell what God has done, ♦
and they will ponder all his works.
10 The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord
and put their trust in him, ♦
and all that are true of heart shall exult.
Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.