Exaudi Deus orationem. A prayer in affliction, with confidence in God that he will bring to nought the machinations of persecutors.

[1] Unto the end, a psalm for David. [2] Hear, O God, my prayer, when I make supplication to thee: deliver my soul from the fear of the enemy. [3] Thou hast protected me from the assembly of the malignant; from the multitude of the workers of iniquity. [4] For they have whetted their tongues like a sword; they have bent their bow a bitter thing, [5] To shoot in secret the undefiled.

[6] They will shoot at him on a sudden, and will not fear: they are resolute in wickedness. They have talked of hiding snares; they have said: Who shall see them? [7] They have searched after iniquities: they have failed in their search. Man shall come to a deep heart: [8] And God shall be exalted. The arrows of children are their wounds: [9] And their tongues against them are made weak. All that saw them were troubled; [10] And every man was afraid. And they declared the works of God: and understood his doings.

[7] A deep heart: That is, crafty, subtle, deep projects and designs; which nevertheless shall not succeed; for God shall be exalted in bringing them to nought by his wisdom and power.

[8] The arrows of children are their wounds: That is, the wounds, stripes, or blows, they seek to inflict upon the just, are but like the weak efforts of children's arrows, which can do no execution: and their tongues, that is, their speeches against them come to nothing.

[11] The just shall rejoice in the Lord, and shall hope in him: and all the upright in heart shall be praised.