Chapter Overview
Summary
Psalm 64 (MT) / Psalm 63 (LXX) is a brief Davidic imprecatory-lament focused on the secret-plottings of hidden-enemies. The psalm highlights speech-as-weapon: the enemies' 'sharpened tongues like swords' and 'aimed bitter words like arrows' (vv. 3–4). Divine counter-action comes as counter-ambush: God 'shoots his arrow at them' (v. 7) and their 'own tongue' is turned against them (v. 8) — the reversal-of-evil-onto-the-plotter is the psalm's theological resolution.
Notable Variants
64:3–4 tongue-as-sword / words-as-arrows speech-weapon theology; 64:8 'their own tongue made them fall' as self-inflicted divine-reversal; the 'secret plotting' critique continuing Ps 58, 59, 62 tradition.
Structural Notes
MT Ps 64 = LXX Ps 63. 11 verses (MT/LXX), 10 verses (English).
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
Superscription tracks MT.
Hear my voice, God, in my complaint; preserve my life from the dread of the enemy.
'Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy' tracks MT.
Hide me from the conspiracy of those who do evil, from the noisy mob of wrongdoers.
'Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers' tracks MT. Secret-plotting theology — James 4:11–12's 'do not speak evil against one another.'
They sharpen their tongues like swords; they aim their arrows — bitter words —
'Who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows' tracks MT. TONGUE-AS-SWORD. The sharp-tongue metaphor recurs at Ps 52:2, 57:4, 140:3, and James 3:5–8. Revelation 1:16 and 19:15 ('from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword') Christologically inverts: Christ's sword-tongue is word-of-truth, not malice.
to shoot from hiding at the blameless. Suddenly they shoot, and they do not fear.
'Shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear' tracks MT.
They strengthen each other in an evil plan; they talk about hiding their traps. They say, "Who can see us?"
'They hold fast to their evil purpose' tracks MT.
They devise injustice after injustice; they complete their carefully searched-out scheme. The inner mind and heart of a person run deep.
'They search out injustice, saying: We have accomplished a diligent search' tracks MT.
But God shoots an arrow at them — suddenly their wounds appear.
'But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly' tracks MT. DIVINE-COUNTER-ARROW. The enemies' arrows (v. 4) are reversed: God shoots back with his own arrows. The sudden-wound (pataxei autous) matches the enemies' 'suddenly' (v. 5). Poetic-retribution.
Their own tongue is turned against them; all who see them shake their heads.
'They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them' tracks MT. SELF-INFLICTED-REVERSAL. Their tongue-weapons (v. 4) become their-own-downfall. The Proverbs 26:27 pit-digger-falling-into-pit pattern.
Then all people stand in awe and declare what God has done; they understand his work.
'Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done' tracks MT. Universal-fear-of-the-LORD theology.
The righteous one rejoices in the LORD and takes refuge in him; all the upright in heart celebrate.
'Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!' tracks MT. The closing righteous-rejoicing — the psalm's movement from enemy-threat to divine-reversal completes.