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Psalm 140

For the choir leader; a psalm by David.

Rescue me from evil people, O Yahweh.
    Keep me safe from violent people.
They plan evil things in their hearts.
    They start fights every day.
They make their tongues as sharp as a snake’s fang.
    Their lips hide the venom of poisonous snakes. Selah

Protect me from the hands of wicked people, O Yahweh.
    Keep me safe from violent people.
    They try to trip me.
Arrogant people have laid a trap for me.
    They have spread out a net with ropes.
    They have set traps for me along the road. Selah

I said to Yahweh, “You are my El.”
    O Yahweh, open your ears to hear my plea for pity.
O Yahweh Adonay, the strong one who saves me,
    you have covered my head in the day of battle.
O Yahweh, do not give wicked people what they want.
    Do not let their evil plans succeed,
        or they will become arrogant. Selah

Let the heads of those who surround me
    be covered with their own threats.
10 Let burning coals fall on them.
    Let them be thrown into a pit, never to rise again.
11 Do not let slanderers prosper on earth.
    Let evil hunt down violent people with one blow after another.

12 I know that Yahweh will defend the rights of those who are oppressed
    and the cause of those who are needy.
13 Indeed, righteous people will give thanks to your name.
    Decent people will live in your presence.

Prayer for Deliverance from Evil Men

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

140 Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men;
Preserve me from violent men,
Who plan evil things in their hearts;
(A)They continually gather together for war.
They sharpen their tongues like a serpent;
The (B)poison of asps is under their lips. Selah

(C)Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
Preserve me from violent men,
Who have purposed to make my steps stumble.
The proud have hidden a (D)snare 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;
Hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord.
O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation,
You have [a]covered my head in the day of battle.
Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;
Do not further his wicked scheme,
(E)Lest they be exalted. Selah

As for the head of those who surround me,
Let the evil of their lips cover them;
10 (F)Let burning coals fall upon them;
Let them be cast into the fire,
Into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
11 Let not a slanderer be established in the earth;
Let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

12 I know that the Lord will (G)maintain
The cause of the afflicted,
And justice for the poor.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name;
The upright shall dwell in Your presence.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 140:7 sheltered

140 Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;

Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.

They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.

Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.

The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.

I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord.

O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.

As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

10 Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

11 Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.

13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.