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For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.

140 Deliver me, Yahweh, from the evil man.
    Preserve me from the violent man:
those who devise mischief in their hearts.
    They continually gather themselves together for war.
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent.
    Viper’s poison is under their lips. Selah.
Yahweh, keep me from the hands of the wicked.
    Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet.
The proud have hidden a snare for me,
    they have spread the cords of a net by the path.
    They have set traps for me. Selah.
I said to Yahweh, “You are my God.”
    Listen to the cry of my petitions, Yahweh.
Yahweh, the Lord, the strength of my salvation,
    you have covered my head in the day of battle.
Yahweh, don’t grant the desires of the wicked.
    Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud. Selah.
As for the head of those who surround me,
    let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10 Let burning coals fall on them.
    Let them be thrown into the fire,
    into miry pits, from where they never rise.
11 An evil speaker won’t be established in the earth.
    Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
12 I know 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.

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

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

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

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