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Psalm 140

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man:
preserve me from the violent man;
which imagine mischiefs in their heart;
continually are they gathered together for war.
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent;
adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.
Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
preserve me from the violent man;
who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords;
they have spread a net by the wayside;
they have set gins for me. Selah.

I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God:
hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord.
O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation,
thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked:
further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.

As for the head of those that compass me about,
let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10 Let burning coals fall upon them:
let them be cast into the fire;
into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
11 Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth:
evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
and the right of the poor.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name:
the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

Prayer for Protection against the Wicked.

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

140 (A)Rescue me, Lord, from evil people;
Protect me from (B)violent men
Who (C)devise evil things in their hearts;
They (D)continually stir up wars.
They (E)sharpen their tongues like a snake;
(F)The venom of a viper is under their lips. Selah

(G)Keep me, Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
(H)Protect me from violent men
Who [a]intend to [b](I)trip up my feet.
The proud have (J)hidden a trap for me, and snares;
They have spread a (K)net at the [c]wayside;
They have set (L)snares for me. Selah

I (M)said to the Lord, “You are my God;
(N)Listen, Lord, to the (O)sound of my pleadings.
[d]God the Lord, (P)the strength of my salvation,
You have (Q)covered my head on the day of [e]battle.
Do not grant, Lord, the (R)desires of the wicked;
Do not bring about (S)his evil planning, so that they are not exalted. Selah

“As for the head of those who surround me,
May the (T)harm of their lips cover them.
10 May (U)burning coals fall upon them;
May they be (V)cast into the fire,
Into bottomless pits from which they (W)cannot rise.
11 May a [f]slanderer not endure on the earth;
(X)May evil hunt a violent person [g]violently.”

12 I know that the Lord will (Y)maintain the cause of the afflicted,
And (Z)justice for the poor.
13 Certainly the (AA)righteous will give thanks to Your name;
The (AB)upright will dwell in Your presence.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 140:4 Or devise
  2. Psalm 140:4 Lit push
  3. Psalm 140:5 Lit track
  4. Psalm 140:7 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  5. Psalm 140:7 Lit weapons
  6. Psalm 140:11 Lit man of tongue
  7. Psalm 140:11 Lit blow upon blow