Christianity

Psalms 64Arrows of the Tongue

Summary

Psalm 64 is a prayer for protection from secret plotters who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim bitter words like arrows, shooting in secret at the blameless. They encourage one another in evil and ask who will see them. But God shoots his own arrow, and their own tongues make them stumble, so all who see it fear and declare God's work. It ends with the righteous rejoicing and taking refuge in the LORD. It is ascribed to David.

Key verse

“Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.”

Psalms 64:1

Themes

Slander
Secret Plots
Reversal
Rejoicing in God

Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:

Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.

But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.

So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.

And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.

The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

Christianity
James 3: The Tongue Is a Fire
James 3:5 to 8 warns that the tongue is a fire and a world of iniquity, echoing Psalm 64's picture of words as weapons.
Judaism
Tehillim 64 in the JPS 1917 Tanakh
Jewish ethical writing on lashon hara, harmful speech, draws on psalms such as this one that describe words used as hidden arrows.

Questions about Psalms 64

What does whet their tongue like a sword mean?

Psalm 64:3 compares slanderers to warriors sharpening swords and aiming arrows. Their weapons are words spoken in secret to wound reputations.

How does Psalm 64 describe God's response to the plotters?

Verse 7 says God shoots at them with an arrow, so the hidden attackers are suddenly wounded, a fitting reversal of their own tactics.