Psalm 140-142

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,
²who plan evil things in their heart
    and ^(C)stir up wars continually.
³They make ^(D)their tongue sharp as ^(E)a serpent's,
    and ^(F)under their lips is the ^(G)venom of asps. Selah

⁴Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
    preserve me from ^(H)violent men,
    who have planned to trip up my feet.
⁵The 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!
⁷O 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

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

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

Give Ear to My Voice

A Psalm of David.

141 O Lord, I call upon you; ^(W)hasten to me!
Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
²Let ^(X)my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and ^(Y)the lifting up of my hands as ^(Z)the evening sacrifice!

³^(AA)Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
    ^(AB)keep watch over the door of my lips!
⁴^(AC)Do not let my heart incline to any evil,
    to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who ^(AD)work iniquity,
    and ^(AE)let me not eat of their delicacies!

⁵^(AF)Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
    let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;
    let my head not refuse it.
Yet ^(AG)my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
⁶When their judges are ^(AH)thrown over the cliff,^[c]
    then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.
⁷As when one plows and breaks up the earth,
    so shall our bones ^(AI)be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.^[d]

⁸But ^(AJ)my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord;
    ^(AK)in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!^[e]
⁹Keep me from ^(AL)the trap that they have laid for me
    and from the snares of evildoers!
¹⁰Let the wicked ^(AM)fall into their own nets,
    while I pass by safely.

You Are My Refuge

A Maskil^[f] of David, when he was in ^(AN)the cave. A Prayer.

142 With my voice I ^(AO)cry out to the Lord;
with my voice I ^(AP)plead for mercy to the Lord.
²I ^(AQ)pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him.

³When my spirit ^(AR)faints within me,
    you know my way!
In the path where I walk
    they have ^(AS)hidden a trap for me.
⁴^(AT)Look to the ^(AU)right and see:
    ^(AV)there is none who takes notice of me;
^(AW)no refuge remains to me;
    no one cares for my soul.

⁵I cry to you, O Lord;
    I say, “You are my ^(AX)refuge,
    my ^(AY)portion in ^(AZ)the land of the living.”
⁶^(BA)Attend to my cry,
    for ^(BB)I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my persecutors,
    ^(BC)for they are too strong for me!
⁷^(BD)Bring me out of prison,
    that I may give thanks to your name!
The righteous will surround me,
    for you will ^(BE)deal bountifully with me.

Footnotes

Psalm 140:5 Or they have spread cords as a net
Psalm 140:8 Hebrew his
Psalm 141:6 Or When their judges fall into the hands of the Rock
Psalm 141:7 The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 6, 7 is uncertain
Psalm 141:8 Hebrew refuge; do not pour out my life!
Psalm 142:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term

Psalm 140-142

New International Version

Psalm 140^[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹Rescue me,^(A) Lord, from evildoers;
    protect me from the violent,^(B)
²who devise evil plans^(C) in their hearts
    and stir up war^(D) every day.
³They make their tongues as sharp as^(E) a serpent’s;
    the poison of vipers^(F) is on their lips.^[b]

⁴Keep me safe,^(G) Lord, from the hands of the wicked;^(H)
    protect me from the violent,
    who devise ways to trip my feet.
⁵The 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.

⁶I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”^(L)
    Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.^(M)
⁷Sovereign Lord,^(N) my strong deliverer,
    you shield my head in the day of battle.
⁸Do not grant the wicked^(O) their desires, Lord;
    do not let their plans succeed.

⁹Those who surround me proudly rear their heads;
    may the mischief of their lips engulf them.^(P)
¹⁰May burning coals fall on them;
    may they be thrown into the fire,^(Q)
    into miry pits, never to rise.
¹¹May slanderers not be established in the land;
    may disaster hunt down the violent.^(R)

¹²I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor^(S)
and upholds the cause^(T) of the needy.^(U)
¹³Surely the righteous will praise your name,^(V)
and the upright will live^(W) in your presence.^(X)

Psalm 141

A psalm of David.

¹I call to you, Lord, come quickly^(Y) to me;
hear me^(Z) when I call to you.
²May my prayer be set before you like incense;^(AA)
may the lifting up of my hands^(AB) be like the evening sacrifice.^(AC)

³Set a guard over my mouth,^(AD) Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.^(AE)
⁴Do not let my heart^(AF) be drawn to what is evil
    so that I take part in wicked deeds^(AG)
along with those who are evildoers;
    do not let me eat their delicacies.^(AH)

⁵Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness;
let him rebuke me^(AI)—that is oil on my head.^(AJ)
My head will not refuse it,
for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

⁶Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,^(AK)
and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
⁷They will say, “As one plows^(AL) and breaks up the earth,^(AM)
so our bones have been scattered at the mouth^(AN) of the grave.”

⁸But my eyes are fixed^(AO) on you, Sovereign Lord;
    in you I take refuge^(AP)—do not give me over to death.
⁹Keep me safe^(AQ) from the traps set by evildoers,^(AR)
    from the snares^(AS) they have laid for me.
¹⁰Let the wicked fall^(AT) into their own nets,
    while I pass by in safety.^(AU)

Psalm 142^[c]

A maskil^[d] of David. When he was in the cave.^(AV) A prayer.

¹I cry aloud^(AW) to the Lord;
I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.^(AX)
²I pour out before him my complaint;^(AY)
before him I tell my trouble.^(AZ)

³When my spirit grows faint^(BA) within me,
    it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
    people have hidden a snare for me.
⁴Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
    no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;^(BB)
    no one cares^(BC) for my life.

⁵I cry to you, Lord;
I say, “You are my refuge,^(BD)
my portion^(BE) in the land of the living.”^(BF)

⁶Listen to my cry,^(BG)
    for I am in desperate need;^(BH)
rescue me^(BI) from those who pursue me,
    for they are too strong^(BJ) for me.
⁷Set me free from my prison,^(BK)
    that I may praise your name.^(BL)
Then the righteous will gather about me
    because of your goodness to me.^(BM)

Footnotes

Psalm 140:1 In Hebrew texts 140:1-13 is numbered 140:2-14.
Psalm 140:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 8.
Psalm 142:1 In Hebrew texts 142:1-7 is numbered 142:2-8.
Psalm 142:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term

2 Corinthians 12

English Standard Version

Paul's Visions and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and ^(A)revelations of the Lord. ²I know a man ^(B)in Christ who fourteen years ago was ^(C)caught up to ^(D)the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, ^(E)God knows. ³And I know that this man was caught up into ^(F)paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, ^(G)God knows— ⁴and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. ⁵On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, ^(H)except of my weaknesses— ⁶though if I should wish to boast, ^(I)I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. ⁷So ^(J)to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,^[a] ^(K)a thorn was given me in the flesh, ^(L)a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. ⁸^(M)Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. ⁹But he said to me, ^(N)“My grace is sufficient for you, for ^(O)my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that ^(P)the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰^(Q)For the sake of Christ, then, ^(R)I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For ^(S)when I am weak, then I am strong.

Concern for the Corinthian Church

¹¹^(T)I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was ^(U)not at all inferior to these super-apostles, ^(V)even though I am nothing. ¹²^(W)The signs of a true apostle were performed among you ^(X)with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. ¹³For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that ^(Y)I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

¹⁴Here ^(Z)for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for ^(AA)I seek not what is yours but you. For ^(AB)children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but ^(AC)parents for their children. ¹⁵^(AD)I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If ^(AE)I love you more, am I to be loved less? ¹⁶But granting that ^(AF)I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. ¹⁷Did I take advantage of you ^(AG)through any of those whom I sent to you? ¹⁸^(AH)I urged Titus to go, and sent ^(AI)the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?

¹⁹Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is ^(AJ)in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and ^(AK)all for your upbuilding, beloved. ²⁰For I fear that perhaps ^(AL)when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. ²¹I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those ^(AM)who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, ^(AN)sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

Footnotes

2 Corinthians 12:7 Or hears from me, even because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited

2 Corinthians 12

New International Version

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting.^(A) Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations^(B) from the Lord. ²I know a man in Christ^(C) who fourteen years ago was caught up^(D) to the third heaven.^(E) Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.^(F) ³And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— ⁴was caught up^(G) to paradise^(H) and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. ⁵I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.^(I) ⁶Even if I should choose to boast,^(J) I would not be a fool,^(K) because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, ⁷or because of these surpassingly great revelations.^(L) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,^(M) a messenger of Satan,^(N) to torment me. ⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.^(O) ⁹But he said to me, “My grace^(P) is sufficient for you, for my power^(Q) is made perfect in weakness.^(R)”^(S) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight^(T) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,^(U) in persecutions,^(V) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.^(W)

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

¹¹I have made a fool of myself,^(X) but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,”^[a]^(Y) even though I am nothing.^(Z) ¹²I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.^(AA) ¹³How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you?^(AB) Forgive me this wrong!^(AC)

¹⁴Now I am ready to visit you for the third time,^(AD) and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents,^(AE) but parents for their children.^(AF) ¹⁵So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.^(AG) If I love you more,^(AH) will you love me less? ¹⁶Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.^(AI) Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! ¹⁷Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? ¹⁸I urged^(AJ) Titus^(AK) to go to you and I sent our brother^(AL) with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?

¹⁹Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God^(AM) as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends,^(AN) is for your strengthening.^(AO) ²⁰For I am afraid that when I come^(AP) I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be.^(AQ) I fear that there may be discord,^(AR) jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,^(AS) slander,^(AT) gossip,^(AU) arrogance^(AV) and disorder.^(AW) ²¹I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved^(AX) over many who have sinned earlier^(AY) and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery^(AZ) in which they have indulged.

Footnotes

2 Corinthians 12:11 Or the most eminent apostles

English Standard Version (ESV)

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 140-142

English Standard Version

Deliver Me, O Lord, from Evil Men

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

Give Ear to My Voice

A Psalm of David.

You Are My Refuge

A Maskil^[f] of David, when he was in ^(AN)the cave. A Prayer.

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 140-142

New International Version

Psalm 140^[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Psalm 141

A psalm of David.

Psalm 142^[c]

A maskil^[d] of David. When he was in the cave.^(AV) A prayer.

Footnotes

Cross references

2 Corinthians 12

English Standard Version

Paul's Visions and His Thorn

Concern for the Corinthian Church

Footnotes

Cross references

2 Corinthians 12

New International Version

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Psalm 140-142 English Standard Version

Deliver Me, O Lord, from Evil Men

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

Give Ear to My Voice

A Psalm of David.

You Are My Refuge

A Maskil[f] of David, when he was in (AN)the cave. A Prayer.

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 140-142 New International Version

Psalm 140[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Psalm 141

A psalm of David.

Psalm 142[c]

A maskil[d] of David. When he was in the cave.(AV) A prayer.

Footnotes

Cross references

2 Corinthians 12 English Standard Version

Paul's Visions and His Thorn

Concern for the Corinthian Church

Footnotes

Cross references

2 Corinthians 12 New International Version

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Psalm 140-142

English Standard Version

A Maskil^[f] of David, when he was in ^(AN)the cave. A Prayer.

Psalm 140-142

New International Version

Psalm 140^[a]

Psalm 142^[c]

A maskil^[d] of David. When he was in the cave.^(AV) A prayer.

2 Corinthians 12

English Standard Version

2 Corinthians 12

New International Version