Read & explore together
The Hurtful Tongue
Psalm 64 is a prayer about cruel speech and hidden wrongdoing. The singer asks God for protection, describes words that wound like weapons, and ends by pointing to God’s justice and the refuge of the righteous.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
This passage is poetry and prayer addressed to God. It moves from complaint and fear, to a description of secret plotting, to God’s response, and finally to the reactions of all people and the righteous. Its images present speech as harmful and God as a safe refuge.
Psalms 64:1–10Main takeaway
This psalm teaches that hidden, hurtful words are not hidden from God, and the righteous can take refuge in him.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A prayer from fearThe psalm opens with a direct request: “Hear my voice, God”. The speaker asks not only for help against the enemy, but to be preserved from fear.
Explanation
The psalm opens with a direct request: “Hear my voice, God”. The speaker asks not only for help against the enemy, but to be preserved from fear. He wants God to hide him from a wicked conspiracy and from people who are actively doing evil.
02Tongues like swordsThe danger is described through speech. The wicked sharpen their tongue like a sword and aim deadly words like arrows.
Explanation
The danger is described through speech. The wicked sharpen their tongue like a sword and aim deadly words like arrows. Their attack is sudden, secret, and aimed at the innocent. The poem shows that words can be used with planning and force to injure others.
03Secret plans exposedThese evildoers encourage each other in evil plans. They speak of hidden snares and ask, “Who will see them?”
Explanation
These evildoers encourage each other in evil plans. They speak of hidden snares and ask, “Who will see them?” They believe their scheme is complete. The psalm also observes that the human mind and heart can be cunning, which fits the picture of careful, secret injustice.
04God’s answer and the final responseThe turning point is simple: “But God”. He strikes suddenly, and their own tongues become their ruin.
Explanation
The turning point is simple: “But God”. He strikes suddenly, and their own tongues become their ruin. Seeing this, people speak about God’s work and think carefully about it. The psalm ends with the righteous glad in Yahweh, taking refuge in him, and praising him.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What pictures does the psalm use for harmful speech?
Look for the comparison between the tongue and a sword, and between deadly words and arrows.
02How do the plotters think about their actions?
Notice their confidence that their snares are secret and that no one will see them.
03How do people respond when God acts?
List the responses in order: fear, declaring God’s work, pondering it, and the righteous rejoicing and taking refuge.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Psalms 64:1–10
1Hear 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 Yahweh, and shall take refuge in him. All the upright in heart shall praise him!