A Prayer for Protection+

1I am in trouble, God—listen to my prayer!

I am afraid of my enemies—save my life!

2Protect me from the plots of the wicked,

from mobs of evil people.

3They sharpen their tongues like swords

and aim cruel words like arrows.

4They are quick to spread their shameless lies;

they destroy good people with cowardly slander.

5They encourage each other in their evil plots;

they talk about where they will place their traps.

“No one can see them,” they say.

6They make evil plans and say,

“We have planned a perfect crime.”

The human heart and mind are a mystery.

7But God shoots his arrows at them,

and suddenly they are wounded.

8He will destroy them because of those words;+

all who see them will shake their heads.

9They will all be afraid;

they will think about what God has done

and tell about his deeds.

10All righteous people will rejoice

because of what the Lord has done.

They will find safety in him;

all good people will praise him.