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Psalm 140
English Standard Version

Deliver Me, O Lord, from Evil Men

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

140 (A)Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men;
    preserve me from (B)violent men,
2 who plan evil things in their heart
    and (C)stir up wars continually.
3 They make (D)their tongue sharp as (E)a serpent's,
    and (F)under their lips is the (G)venom of asps. Selah

4 Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
    preserve me from (H)violent men,
    who have planned to trip up my feet.
5 The arrogant have (I)hidden a trap for me,
    and with cords they have spread (J)a net;[a]
    beside the way they have set (K)snares for me. Selah

6 (L)I say to the Lord, You are my God;
    give ear to (M)the voice of my pleas for mercy, O Lord!
7 O Lord, my Lord, (N)the strength of my salvation,
    you have covered my head in the day of battle.
8 (O)Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;
    do not further their[b] evil plot, or (P)they will be exalted! Selah

9 As for the head of those who surround me,
    let (Q)the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
10 Let (R)burning coals fall upon them!
    Let them be cast into fire,
    into miry pits, no more to rise!
11 Let not the slanderer be established in the land;
    let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

12 I know that the Lord will (S)maintain the cause of the afflicted,
    and (T)will execute justice for the needy.
13 Surely (U)the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
    (V)the upright shall dwell in your presence.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 140:5 Or they have spread cords as a net
  2. Psalm 140:8 Hebrew his
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Psalm 140
Holman Christian Standard Bible

Psalm 140

Prayer for Rescue

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.

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

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

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

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