Psalm 140[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Rescue me,(A) Lord, from evildoers;
    protect me from the violent,(B)
who devise evil plans(C) in their hearts
    and stir up war(D) every day.
They make their tongues as sharp as(E) a serpent’s;
    the poison of vipers(F) is on their lips.[b]

Keep me safe,(G) Lord, from the hands of the wicked;(H)
    protect me from the violent,
    who devise ways to trip my feet.
The arrogant have hidden a snare(I) for me;
    they have spread out the cords of their net(J)
    and have set traps(K) for me along my path.

I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”(L)
    Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.(M)
Sovereign Lord,(N) my strong deliverer,
    you shield my head in the day of battle.
Do not grant the wicked(O) their desires, Lord;
    do not let their plans succeed.

Those who surround me proudly rear their heads;
    may the mischief of their lips engulf them.(P)
10 May burning coals fall on them;
    may they be thrown into the fire,(Q)
    into miry pits, never to rise.
11 May slanderers not be established in the land;
    may disaster hunt down the violent.(R)

12 I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor(S)
    and upholds the cause(T) of the needy.(U)
13 Surely the righteous will praise your name,(V)
    and the upright will live(W) in your presence.(X)

Psalm 141

A psalm of David.

I call to you, Lord, come quickly(Y) to me;
    hear me(Z) when I call to you.
May my prayer be set before you like incense;(AA)
    may the lifting up of my hands(AB) be like the evening sacrifice.(AC)

Set a guard over my mouth,(AD) Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.(AE)
Do not let my heart(AF) be drawn to what is evil
    so that I take part in wicked deeds(AG)
along with those who are evildoers;
    do not let me eat their delicacies.(AH)

Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness;
    let him rebuke me(AI)—that is oil on my head.(AJ)
My head will not refuse it,
    for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,(AK)
    and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
They will say, “As one plows(AL) and breaks up the earth,(AM)
    so our bones have been scattered at the mouth(AN) of the grave.”

But my eyes are fixed(AO) on you, Sovereign Lord;
    in you I take refuge(AP)—do not give me over to death.
Keep me safe(AQ) from the traps set by evildoers,(AR)
    from the snares(AS) they have laid for me.
10 Let the wicked fall(AT) into their own nets,
    while I pass by in safety.(AU)

Psalm 142[c]

A maskil[d] of David. When he was in the cave.(AV) A prayer.

I cry aloud(AW) to the Lord;
    I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.(AX)
I pour out before him my complaint;(AY)
    before him I tell my trouble.(AZ)

When my spirit grows faint(BA) within me,
    it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
    people have hidden a snare for me.
Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
    no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;(BB)
    no one cares(BC) for my life.

I cry to you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my refuge,(BD)
    my portion(BE) in the land of the living.”(BF)

Listen to my cry,(BG)
    for I am in desperate need;(BH)
rescue me(BI) from those who pursue me,
    for they are too strong(BJ) for me.
Set me free from my prison,(BK)
    that I may praise your name.(BL)
Then the righteous will gather about me
    because of your goodness to me.(BM)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 140:1 In Hebrew texts 140:1-13 is numbered 140:2-14.
  2. Psalm 140:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 8.
  3. Psalm 142:1 In Hebrew texts 142:1-7 is numbered 142:2-8.
  4. Psalm 142:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term

Intelligibility in Worship

14 Follow the way of love(A) and eagerly desire(B) gifts of the Spirit,(C) especially prophecy.(D) For anyone who speaks in a tongue[a](E) does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them;(F) they utter mysteries(G) by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,(H) encouraging(I) and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue(J) edifies(K) themselves, but the one who prophesies(L) edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,[b] but I would rather have you prophesy.(M) The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,[c] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.(N)

Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation(O) or knowledge(P) or prophecy or word of instruction?(Q) Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?(R) So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.(S) 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit,(T) try to excel in those that build up(U) the church.

13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.(V) 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays,(W) but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit,(X) but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing(Y) with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,[d] say “Amen”(Z) to your thanksgiving,(AA) since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.(AB)

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.(AC)

20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.(AD) In regard to evil be infants,(AE) but in your thinking be adults.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 14:2 Or in another language; also in verses 4, 13, 14, 19, 26 and 27
  2. 1 Corinthians 14:5 Or in other languages; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39
  3. 1 Corinthians 14:5 Or in other languages; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39
  4. 1 Corinthians 14:16 The Greek word for inquirer is a technical term for someone not fully initiated into a religion; also in verses 23 and 24.

Bible Gateway Recommends