Psalm 140

Prayer for Rescue

For the choir director. A psalm of David.

Rescue me, Lord, from evil men.
Keep me safe from violent men(A)
who plan evil in their hearts.
They stir up wars all day long.(B)
They make their tongues
as sharp as a snake’s bite;
viper’s venom is under their lips.(C)Selah

Protect me, Lord,
from the power of the wicked.(D)
Keep me safe from violent men
who plan to make me stumble.[a](E)
The proud hide a trap with ropes for me;
they spread a net along the path
and set snares for me.(F)Selah

I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”
Listen, Lord, to my cry for help.(G)
Lord, my Lord, my strong Savior,
you shield my head on the day of battle.(H)
Lord, do not grant the desires of the wicked;
do not let them achieve their goals.
Otherwise, they will become proud.(I)Selah

When those who surround me rise up,[b]
may the trouble their lips cause overwhelm them.(J)
10 Let hot coals fall on them.
Let them be thrown into the fire,
into the abyss, never again to rise.(K)
11 Do not let a slanderer stay in the land.
Let evil relentlessly[c] hunt down a violent man.(L)

12 I[d] know that the Lord upholds
the just cause of the poor,
justice for the needy.(M)
13 Surely the righteous will praise your name;
the upright will live in your presence.(N)

Footnotes

  1. 140:4 Lit to trip up my steps
  2. 140:9 Lit Head of those who surround me
  3. 140:11 Hb obscure
  4. 140:12 Alt Hb tradition reads You

Protection from the Wicked

Psalm 140

For the music director: a psalm of David.
Rescue me, Adonai, from the evil man.
Protect me from the violent men—
who devise evil in their heart—
    every day they stir up wars.
They sharpen their tongue like a serpent’s
—viper’s venom is under their lips.[a] Selah
Keep me safe, Adonai, from the clutches of the wicked.
Protect me from the man of violence who planned to push me off my feet.
The proud have hidden a trap and cords for me.
They spread out a net by the path.
They set snares for me. Selah
I said to Adonai: “You are my God!”
Hear, Adonai, the sound of my supplications.
God my Lord, the strength of my deliverance,
You shield my head in the day of battle.
Grant not, Adonai, the desires of the wicked.
Do not let their evil plan succeed,
or they will exalt themselves. Selah
10 As for the head of those surrounding me,
may the mischief of their lips overwhelm them.
11 Let burning coals fall upon them.
May they be cast into the fire, into deep pits,
never to rise again.[b]
12 May a slanderer not endure in the land.
May calamity hunt down a violent man.
13 I know Adonai will vindicate the poor,
and secure justice for the needy.
14 Surely, the righteous ones will praise Your name.
The upright will dwell in Your presence.