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Psalm 140
EasyEnglish Bible

This is a song that David wrote.

It is for the music leader.

Please help me, Lord

140 Lord, please save me from evil people.
    Keep me safe from people who like to attack others.
2 They think of evil ideas to hurt people.
    They only want to cause trouble!
3 Their words hurt people,
    like the tongue of a snake.
They bite with poison,
    like a dangerous snake.
Selah
4 Lord, keep me safe from the power of wicked people.
    Keep me safe from violent people who want to attack me.
5 Proud people have prepared a trap to catch me.
    They have put their nets across my path.[a]
Selah.
6 Lord, I say to you, ‘You are my God.’
    Lord, hear my prayer for help!
7 Lord, my Lord, you are my strong helper.
    You keep me safe when I fight in a battle.
8 Lord, do not let wicked people do what they want to do.
    Stop them when they prepare to attack.
Selah.
9 Give trouble to the people who come round me to attack!
Let the bad things that they say against me
    happen to them instead![b]
10 Drop burning coals on them like rain!
    Throw those people into the fire!
Let them fall into deep holes that they cannot get out of!
11 People who tell cruel lies should not live in our land.
Trouble will happen to people who like to fight.
    Bad trouble will knock them down!
12 I know that the Lord helps poor people.
    He makes sure that they receive justice.
13 Your righteous people will always praise you.
    Good, honest people will live near to you.

Footnotes

  1. 140:5 People used traps and nets to catch animals and birds. These bad people wanted to catch David. It is like they hid their traps and nets to catch him.
  2. 140:9 David is praying. He wants the trouble that he has to go to his enemies instead.
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Psalm 140
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

140 I have cried to the, O Lord, hear me: hearken to my voice, when I cry to thee.

2 Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight; the lifting up of my hands, as evening sacrifice.

3 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth: and a door round about my lips.

4 Incline not my heart to evil words; to make excuses in sins. With men that work iniquity: and I will not communicate with the choicest of them.

5 The just shall correct me in mercy, and shall reprove me: but let not the oil of the sinner fatten my head. For my prayer also shall still be against the things with which they are well pleased:

6 Their judges falling upon the rock have been swallowed up. They shall hear my words, for they have prevailed:

7 As when the thickness of the earth is broken up upon the ground: Our bones are scattered by the side of hell.

8 But o to thee, O Lord, Lord, are my eyes: in thee have I put my trust, take not away my soul.

9 Keep me from the snare, which they have laid for me, and from the stumblingblocks of them that work iniquity.

10 The wicked shall fall in his net: I am alone until I pass.

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Psalm 140
New International Version

Psalm 140[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

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

4 Keep me safe,(G) Lord, from the hands of the wicked;(H)
    protect me from the violent,
    who devise ways to trip my feet.
5 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.

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

9 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)

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.
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Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

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