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Psalm 140

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

O Lord, rescue me from evil people.
    Protect me from those who are violent,
those who plot evil in their hearts
    and stir up trouble all day long.
Their tongues sting like a snake;
    the venom of a viper drips from their lips. Interlude

O Lord, keep me out of the hands of the wicked.
    Protect me from those who are violent,
    for they are plotting against me.
The proud have set a trap to catch me;
    they have stretched out a net;
    they have placed traps all along the way. Interlude

I said to the Lord, “You are my God!”
    Listen, O Lord, to my cries for mercy!
O Sovereign Lord, the strong one who rescued me,
    you protected me on the day of battle.
Lord, do not let evil people have their way.
    Do not let their evil schemes succeed,
    or they will become proud. Interlude

Let my enemies be destroyed
    by the very evil they have planned for me.
10 Let burning coals fall down on their heads.
    Let them be thrown into the fire
    or into watery pits from which they can’t escape.
11 Don’t let liars prosper here in our land.
    Cause great disasters to fall on the violent.

12 But I know the Lord will help those they persecute;
    he will give justice to the poor.
13 Surely righteous people are praising your name;
    the godly will live in your presence.

To the Music Director: A Davidic Song

A Prayer for Deliverance

140 [a]Deliver me, Lord, from evil people,
    preserve me from violent men,
who craft evil plans in their minds,
    inciting wars every day.[b]
They sharpen their tongues like a serpent;
    the venom of vipers is on their lips.
Interlude

Protect me, Lord, from the control of evil people,
    from violent men who have planned to trip me.
The arrogant have laid a trap for me;
    they have spread a net with ropes,
        lining it with snares along the way.
Interlude

So I say to the Lord, “You are my God;
    listen to my voice
        as I plead for mercy, Lord.
Lord, my Lord, my strong deliverer,
    you have protected my head in the time[c] of battle.
Never grant, Lord, the desires of the wicked;
    never condone their plans
        so they cannot exalt themselves.
Interlude

May those who surround me discover
    that the trouble they talk about falls on their own head!
10 May burning coals fall on them;
    may they be cast into fire,
        and into miry pits, never to rise again.
11 Let not the slanderer[d] become established in the land.
    May evil quickly hunt down the violent man.
12 I know that the Lord will act on behalf of the tormented,
    providing justice for the needy.

13 Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name,
    while the upright live in your presence.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 140:1 V.1 is v. 2 in MT, and so throughout the chapter.
  2. Psalm 140:2 Lit. all day; LXX DSS 11QPsa read all the day
  3. Psalm 140:7 Lit. day
  4. Psalm 140:11 Lit. the man of tongue