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Psalm 140

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

To the leader. A Psalm of David.

Deliver me, O Lord, from evildoers;
    protect me from those who are violent,(A)
who plan evil things in their minds
    and stir up wars continually.(B)
They make their tongue sharp as a snake’s,
    and under their lips is the venom of vipers. Selah(C)

Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
    protect me from the violent
    who have planned my downfall.(D)
The arrogant have hidden a trap for me,
    and with cords they have spread a net,[a]
    along the road they have set snares for me. Selah(E)

I say to the Lord, “You are my God;
    give ear, O Lord, to the voice of my supplications.”(F)
O Lord, my Lord, my strong deliverer,
    you have covered my head in the day of battle.(G)
Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;
    do not further their evil plot.[b] Selah(H)

Those who surround me lift up their heads;[c]
    let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!(I)
10 Let burning coals fall on them!
    Let them be flung into pits, no more to rise!(J)
11 Do not let the slanderer be established in the land;
    let evil speedily hunt down the violent!(K)

12 I know that the Lord maintains the cause of the needy
    and executes justice for the poor.(L)
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
    the upright shall live in your presence.(M)

Footnotes

  1. 140.5 Or they have spread cords as a net
  2. 140.8 Heb adds they are exalted
  3. 140.9 Cn: Heb those who surround me are uplifted in head

Prayer for Protection against the Wicked.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

140 Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men;
Protect me from violent men.

They devise evil things in their hearts;
They continually [gather together and] stir up wars.

They sharpen their tongues like a serpent’s;
Poison of a viper is under their lips.(A) Selah.


Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
Protect me from violent men
Who intend to trip up my steps.

The proud have hidden a trap for me, and cords;
They have spread a net by the wayside;
They have set traps for me. Selah.


I said to the Lord, “You are my God;
Listen to the voice of my supplications, O Lord.

“O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation,
You have covered my head in the day of battle.

“Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;
Do not further their evil device, that they not be exalted. Selah.


“Those who surround me raise their heads;
May the mischief of their own lips come upon them.
10 
“Let burning coals fall upon them;
Let them be thrown into the fire,
Into deep [water] pits from which they cannot rise.
11 
“Do not let a slanderer be established in the earth;
Let evil quickly hunt the violent man [to overthrow him and stop his evil acts].”

12 
I know [with confidence] that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
And [will secure] justice for the poor.
13 
Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name;
The upright will dwell in Your presence.

Psalm 140

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

O Lord, rescue me from evil people.
    Protect me from those who are violent,
those who plot evil in their hearts
    and stir up trouble all day long.
Their tongues sting like a snake;
    the venom of a viper drips from their lips. Interlude

O Lord, keep me out of the hands of the wicked.
    Protect me from those who are violent,
    for they are plotting against me.
The proud have set a trap to catch me;
    they have stretched out a net;
    they have placed traps all along the way. Interlude

I said to the Lord, “You are my God!”
    Listen, O Lord, to my cries for mercy!
O Sovereign Lord, the strong one who rescued me,
    you protected me on the day of battle.
Lord, do not let evil people have their way.
    Do not let their evil schemes succeed,
    or they will become proud. Interlude

Let my enemies be destroyed
    by the very evil they have planned for me.
10 Let burning coals fall down on their heads.
    Let them be thrown into the fire
    or into watery pits from which they can’t escape.
11 Don’t let liars prosper here in our land.
    Cause great disasters to fall on the violent.

12 But I know the Lord will help those they persecute;
    he will give justice to the poor.
13 Surely righteous people are praising your name;
    the godly will live in your presence.