Psalm 140-145

Contemporary English Version

⁴ Protect me, Lord, from cruel
and brutal enemies,
    who want to destroy me.
⁵ Those proud people have hidden
traps and nets
    to catch me as I walk.

⁶ You, Lord, are my God!
    Please listen to my prayer.
⁷ You have the power to save me,
and you keep me safe
    in every battle.

⁸ Don't let the wicked succeed
    in doing what they want,
or else they might never
    stop planning evil.
⁹ They have me surrounded,
but make them the victims
    of their own vicious lies.^[a]
10 Dump flaming coals on them
and throw them into pits
    where they can't climb out.
¹¹ Chase those cruel liars away!
    Let trouble hunt them down.

¹² Our Lord, I know that you
    defend the homeless
and see that the poor
    are given justice.
¹³ Your people will praise you
and will live with you
    because they do right.

³ Help me to guard my words
    whenever I say something.
⁴ Don't let me want to do evil
or waste my time doing wrong
    with wicked people.
Don't let me even taste
    the good things they offer.

⁵ Let your faithful people
    correct and punish me.
My prayers condemn the deeds
    of those who do wrong,
so don't let me be friends
    with any of them.
⁶ Everyone will admit
    that I was right
when their rulers are thrown
    down a rocky cliff,
⁷ and their bones lie scattered
like crushed rocks
    on top of a grave.^[b]

⁸ You are my Lord and God,
and I look to you for safety.
    Don't let me be harmed.
⁹ Protect me from the traps
    of those violent people,
¹⁰ and make them fall
into their own traps
    while you help me escape.

A trap has been hidden
    along my pathway.
⁴ Even if you look,
    you won't see anyone
who cares enough
    to walk beside me.
There is no place to hide,
    and no one who really cares.

⁵ I pray to you, Lord!
    You are my place of safety,
and you are my choice
    in the land of the living.
Please answer my prayer.
    I am completely helpless.

⁶ Help! They are chasing me,
    and they are too strong.
⁷ Rescue me from this prison,
    so I can praise your name.
And when your people notice
your wonderful kindness to me,
    they will rush to my side.

⁵ I remember to think about
the many things you did
    in years gone by.
⁶ Then I lift my hands in prayer,
because my soul is a desert,
    thirsty for water from you.

⁷ Please hurry, Lord,
and answer my prayer.
    I feel hopeless.
Don't turn away
    and leave me here to die.
⁸ Each morning let me learn
more about your love
    because I trust you.
I come to you in prayer,
    asking for your guidance.

⁹ Please rescue me
from my enemies, Lord!
    I come to you for safety.^[c]
10 You are my God. Show me
    what you want me to do,
and let your gentle Spirit
    lead me in the right path.

¹¹ Be true to your name, Lord,
    and keep my life safe.
Use your saving power
    to protect me from trouble.
¹² I am your servant.
Show how much you love me
    by destroying my enemies.

^3 (E) Why do we humans mean anything
to you, our Lord?
    Why do you care about us?
⁴ We disappear like a breath;
we last no longer
    than a faint shadow.

⁵ Open the heavens like a curtain
    and come down, Lord.
Touch the mountains
    and make them send up smoke.
⁶ Use your lightning as arrows
to scatter my enemies
    and make them run away.
⁷ Reach down from heaven
    and set me free.
Save me from the mighty flood
⁸ of those lying foreigners
    who never tell the truth.

⁹ In praise of you, our God,
I will sing a new song,
    while playing my harp.
¹⁰ By your power, kings win wars,
and your servant David is saved
    from deadly swords.
¹¹ Won't you keep me safe
from those lying foreigners
    who never tell the truth?

¹² Let's pray that our young sons
    will grow like strong plants
and that our daughters
will be as lovely as columns
    in the corner of a palace.
¹³ May our barns be filled
    with all kinds of crops.
May our fields be covered
with sheep by the thousands,
¹⁴     and every cow have calves.^[f]
Don't let our city be captured
    or any of us be taken away,
and don't let cries of sorrow
    be heard in our streets.

¹⁵ Our Lord and our God,
you give these blessings
    to all who worship you.

⁴ Each generation will announce
to the next your wonderful
    and powerful deeds.
⁵ I will keep thinking about
your marvelous glory
    and your mighty miracles.^[g]
6 Everyone will talk about
    your fearsome deeds,
and I will tell all nations
    how great you are.
⁷ They will celebrate and sing
about your matchless mercy
    and your power to save.

⁸ You are merciful, Lord!
You are kind and patient
    and always loving.
⁹ You are good to everyone,
and you take care
    of all your creation.

¹⁰ All creation will thank you,
and your loyal people
    will praise you.
¹¹ They will tell about
your marvelous kingdom
    and your power.
¹² Then everyone will know about
the mighty things you do
    and your glorious kingdom.
¹³ Your kingdom will never end,
    and you will rule forever.

Our Lord, you keep your word
    and do everything you say.^[h]
14 When someone stumbles or falls,
    you give a helping hand.
¹⁵ Everyone depends on you,
and when the time is right,
    you provide them with food.
¹⁶ By your own hand you satisfy
    the desires of all who live.

¹⁷ Our Lord, everything you do
    is kind and thoughtful,
¹⁸ and you are near to everyone
    whose prayers are sincere.
¹⁹ You satisfy the desires
    of all your worshipers,
and you come to save them
    when they ask for help.
²⁰ You take care of everyone
who loves you,
    but you destroy the wicked.

²¹ I will praise you, Lord,
and everyone will respect
    your holy name forever.