Add parallel Print Page Options

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

Psalm 142

Prayer for Deliverance from Persecutors

A Maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A Prayer.

With my voice I cry to the Lord;
    with my voice I make supplication to the Lord.(A)
I pour out my complaint before him;
    I tell my trouble before him.(B)
When my spirit is faint,
    you know my way.

In the path where I walk,
    they have hidden a trap for me.(C)
Look on my right hand and see:
    there is no one who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
    no one cares for me.(D)

I cry to you, O Lord;
    I say, “You are my refuge,
    my portion in the land of the living.”(E)
Listen to my cry,
    for I am brought very low.

Save me from my persecutors,
    for they are too strong for me.(F)
Bring me out of prison,
    so that I may give thanks to your name.
The righteous will surround me,
    for you will deal bountifully with me.(G)

The Conversion of Saul

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest(A) and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.(B) He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”(C) He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one.(D) Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing;[a] so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight and neither ate nor drank.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 9.8 Other ancient authorities read no one

The Crucifixion of Jesus

26 As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.(A) 27 A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him.(B) 28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.(C) 29 For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’(D) 31 For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”(E)

Read full chapter

Psalm 141

Prayer for Preservation from Evil

A Psalm of David.

I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me;
    give ear to my voice when I call to you.(A)
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you
    and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.(B)

Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not turn my heart to any evil,
    to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with those who work iniquity;
    do not let me eat of their delicacies.(C)

Let the righteous strike me;
    let the faithful correct me.
Never let the oil of the wicked anoint my head,[a]
    for my prayer is continually[b] against their wicked deeds.(D)
When they are given over to those who shall condemn them,
    then they shall learn that my words were pleasant.
Like a rock that one breaks apart and shatters on the land,
    so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol.[c](E)

But my eyes are turned toward you, O God, my Lord;
    in you I seek refuge; do not leave me defenseless.(F)
Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me
    and from the snares of evildoers.(G)
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
    while I alone escape.(H)

Footnotes

  1. 141.5 Gk: Meaning of Heb uncertain
  2. 141.5 Cn: Heb for continually and my prayer
  3. 141.7 Meaning of Heb of 141.5–7 is uncertain

Psalm 143

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

A Psalm of David.

Hear my prayer, O Lord;
    give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness;
    answer me in your righteousness.(A)
Do not enter into judgment with your servant,
    for no one living is righteous before you.(B)

For the enemy has pursued me,
    crushing my life to the ground,
    making me sit in darkness like those long dead.
Therefore my spirit faints within me;
    my heart within me is appalled.(C)

I remember the days of old;
    I think about all your deeds;
    I meditate on the works of your hands.(D)
I stretch out my hands to you;
    my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah(E)

Answer me quickly, O Lord;
    my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me,
    or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.(F)
Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning,
    for in you I put my trust.
Teach me the way I should go,
    for to you I lift up my soul.(G)

Save me, O Lord, from my enemies;
    I have fled to you for refuge.[a](H)
10 Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God.
Let your good spirit lead me
    on a level path.(I)

11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life.
    In your righteousness bring me out of trouble.(J)
12 In your steadfast love cut off my enemies,
    and destroy all my adversaries,
    for I am your servant.(K)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 143.9 Heb ms Gk: MT to you I have hidden