^3 (A)They bend their tongue like a bow;
    falsehood and not truth has grown strong^[a] in the land;
for they proceed from evil to evil,
    ^(B)and they do not know me, declares the Lord.

^8 (A)Their tongue is a deadly arrow;
    ^(B)it speaks deceitfully;
with his mouth ^(C)each speaks peace to his neighbour,
    but in his heart ^(D)he plans an ambush for him.

²¹ You shall be ^(A)hidden from the lash of the tongue,
    and shall not fear destruction when it comes.

²⁰ In ^(A)the cover of your presence you hide them
    from the plots of men;
you ^(B)store them in your shelter
    from the strife of tongues.