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Wisdom & Poetry · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Psalm 64

Psalm 64 is read especially through the theme of wisdom, within Book II (Psalms 42–72). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application.

WisdomPraiseLament
Psalms overview
Old Testament

Psalm 64

1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Hear my voice, God, in my complaint. Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

2Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the noisy crowd of the ones doing evil;

3who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and aim their arrows, deadly words,

4to shoot innocent men from ambushes. They shoot at him suddenly and fearlessly.

5They encourage themselves in evil plans. They talk about laying snares secretly. They say, “Who will see them?”

6They plot injustice, saying, “We have made a perfect plan!” Surely man’s mind and heart are cunning.

7But God will shoot at them. They will be suddenly struck down with an arrow.

8Their own tongues shall ruin them. All who see them will shake their heads.

9All mankind shall be afraid. They shall declare the work of God, and shall wisely ponder what he has done.

10The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall take refuge in him. All the upright in heart shall praise him!

READ IN CONTEXT

Understanding Psalm 64

Psalm 64 is read especially through the theme of wisdom, within Book II (Psalms 42–72). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application. Read it within the complete five-book Psalms collection, then compare its prayer language with the types of prayer found across Scripture. Classification is a reading aid rather than a replacement for the Psalm's own movement and tension.

Collection

Book II (Psalms 42–72). The five-book shape of the Psalter helps readers hear individual prayers within a deliberately arranged collection.

Themes detected

Wisdom, Praise, Lament. Read for these themes while remaining open to tension and secondary movements.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Psalm 64

Psalm 64 contains 10 verses and about 169 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Hear my voice, God, in my complaint. Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 10 closes: “The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall take refuge in him. All the upright in heart shall praise him!” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include will, shoot, evil, suddenly, heart, chief. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Psalm 64

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Psalms 64:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

What kind of Psalm is this?+

Our reading profile emphasizes wisdom, with related themes of Wisdom, Praise, Lament. Many Psalms blend genres or move between moods, so this label is a guide rather than a rigid classification.

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