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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.

Prayer for Help in the Face of Enemies

For the music director. A psalm of David.[a]

140 Rescue me, O Yahweh, from evil men.[b]
Preserve me from violent men,
who plan evil things in their heart.
They stir up wars continually.
They sharpen their tongue as sharp as a snake’s;
the venom of a viper is under their lips. Selah
Protect me, O Yahweh, from the hands of the wicked.
Preserve me from violent men,
who have planned to make me stumble.[c]
The proud have hidden a trap for me, and cords.
They have spread out a net along the side[d] of the path.
They have set snares for me. Selah
I say to Yahweh, “You are my God.”
Listen, O Yahweh, to the voice of my supplications.
O Yahweh, my Lord, the strength of my salvation,
you have covered my head in the day of battle.
Do not grant, O Yahweh, the desires of the wicked.
Do not allow them to attain their[e] plan, lest they be exalted. Selah
With respect to the head of those who surround me,
may the harm of their lips cover them.
10 Let burning coals fall on them;
let them be dropped into the fire,
into bottomless pits from which they cannot rise.
11 Do not let a slanderer[f] be established in the land;
as for the man of violence, let evil hunt him quickly.
12 I know[g] that Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
and justice for the needy.
13 Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name;
the upright will dwell in your presence.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 140:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
  2. Psalm 140:1 The several uses of the singular “man” in this psalm are probably collective
  3. Psalm 140:4 Literally “push my steps”
  4. Psalm 140:5 Literally “hand”
  5. Psalm 140:8 Hebrew “his”
  6. Psalm 140:11 Literally “man of tongue”
  7. Psalm 140:12 According to the reading tradition (Qere)