Bible Verses About Malice

Hide me from the scheming of the wicked, from the mob of workers of iniquity,

who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,

ambushing the innocent in seclusion, shooting suddenly, without fear.

They hold fast to their evil purpose; they speak of hiding their snares. “Who will see them?” they say.

They devise injustice and say, “We have perfected a secret plan.” For the inner man and the heart are mysterious.

I wept and fasted, but it brought me reproach.

I made sackcloth my clothing, and I was sport to them.

Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of drunkards.

May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated.

May those who say, “Aha, aha!” retreat because of their shame.

For my enemies speak against me, and those who lie in wait for my life conspire,

saying, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for there is no one to rescue him.”

For wicked and deceitful mouths open against me; they speak against me with lying tongues.

They surround me with hateful words and attack me without cause.

In return for my love they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.

They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

For he never thought to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and brokenhearted, even to their death.

The cursing that he loved, may it fall on him; the blessing in which he refused to delight, may it be far from him.

The cursing that he wore like a coat, may it soak into his body like water, and into his bones like oil.

Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence,

who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long.

They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah

Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked. Keep me safe from men of violence who scheme to make me stumble.

For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.

For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.