1 For the Leader. A Psalm of David.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 Say we, therefore, ourselves also: "Hearken, O God, to my prayer, while I am troubled; from fear of the enemy deliver my soul" [Psalm 64:1]. Enemies have raged against the Martyrs: for what was that voice of Christ's Body praying? For this it was praying, to be delivered from enemies, and that enemies might not have power to slay them.
2 Hear my voice, O G-d, in my complaint; preserve my life from the terror of the enemy.
Basil of Caesarea · AD 379 What, really, does our spiritual father intend to teach? "I will teach you the fear of the Lord." When he ordered us above to fear the Lord, he also showed the profit that comes from fear, saying, "Those who fear him do not lack anything." At present also, they hand down to us a certain teaching of divine fear.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "You have protected me from the gathering together of malignants, and from the multitude of men working iniquity" [Psalm 64:2]. Now upon Himself our Head let us look. Like things many Martyrs have suffered: but nothing does shine out so brightly as the Head of Martyrs; in Him rather let us behold what they have gone through.
3 Hide me from the council of evil-doers; from the tumult of the workers of iniquity;
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "For they have whet like a sword their tongues" [Psalm 64:3]. Which says another Psalm also, "Sons of men; their teeth are arms and arrows, and their tongue is a sharp sword." Let not the Jews say, we have not killed Christ.
4 Who have whet their tongue like a sword, and have aimed their arrow, a poisoned word;
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "They have bended the bow, a bitter thing, in order that they may shoot in secret One unspotted" [Psalm 64:4]. The bow he calls lyings in wait. For he that with sword fights hand to hand, openly fights: he that shoots an arrow deceives, in order to strike. For the arrow smites, before it is foreseen to come to wound. But whom could the lyings in wait of the human heart escape?
5 That they may shoot in secret places at the blameless; suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "They told, in order that they might hide traps: they said, Who shall see them?" [Psalm 64:5]. They thought they would escape Him, whom they were killing, that they would escape God. Behold, suppose Christ was a man, like the rest of men, and knew not what was being contrived for Him: does God also know not? O heart of man! Wherefore have you said to yourself, Who sees me?
6 They encourage one another in an evil matter; they converse of laying snares secretly; they ask, who would see them.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "They have searched out iniquity, they have failed, searching searchings:" that is, deadly and acute designs. Let Him not be betrayed by us, but by His disciple: let Him not be killed by us, but by the judge: let us do all, and let us seem to have done nothing. ...But what befell them? "They failed searching searchings." Whence?
7 They search out iniquities, they have accomplished a diligent search; even in the inward thought of every one, and the deep heart.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "Arrows of infants have been made the strokes of them" [Psalm 64:7]. Where is that savageness? Where is that roar of the lion, of the people roaring and saying, "Crucify, Crucify"? Where are the lyings in wait of men bending the bow? Have not "the strokes of them been made the arrows of infants"? You know in what manner infants make to themselves arrows of little canes.
8 But G-d doth shoot at them with an arrow suddenly; thence are their wounds.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "And the tongues of them have been made weak upon them." Let them whet now their tongues like a sword, let them confirm to themselves malignant discourse. Deservedly to themselves they have confirmed it, because "the tongues of them have been made weak upon them." Could this be strong against God?
9 So they make their own tongue a stumbling unto themselves; all that see them shake the head. 10 And all men fear; and they declare the work of G-d, and understand His doing.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "And every man feared" [Psalm 64:9]. They that feared not, were not even men. "Every man feared;" that is, every one using reason to perceive the things which were done. Whence they that feared not, must rather be called cattle, rather beasts savage and cruel. A lion ramping and roaring is that people as yet.
11 The righteous shall be glad in HaShem, and shall take refuge in Him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.