Psalm 140-145  New International Version

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

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

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

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

³ Set a guard over my mouth,^(AD) Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.^(AE)
4 Do 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)

⁵ Let 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.

⁶ Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,^(AK)
    and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
⁷ They 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.”

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

³ When 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.
⁴ Look 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.

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

⁶ Listen 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.
⁷ Set 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)

⁷ Answer me quickly,^(BY) Lord;
    my spirit fails.^(BZ)
Do not hide your face^(CA) from me
    or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
⁸ Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,^(CB)
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way^(CC) I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.^(CD)
9 Rescue me^(CE) from my enemies,^(CF) Lord,
    for I hide myself in you.
¹⁰ Teach me^(CG) to do your will,
    for you are my God;^(CH)
may your good Spirit
    lead^(CI) me on level ground.^(CJ)

¹¹ For your name’s sake,^(CK) Lord, preserve my life;^(CL)
    in your righteousness,^(CM) bring me out of trouble.
¹² In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;^(CN)
    destroy all my foes,^(CO)
    for I am your servant.^(CP)

³ Lord, what are human beings^(CV) that you care for them,
    mere mortals that you think of them?
⁴ They are like a breath;^(CW)
    their days are like a fleeting shadow.^(CX)

⁵ Part your heavens,^(CY) Lord, and come down;^(CZ)
    touch the mountains, so that they smoke.^(DA)
6 Send forth lightning^(DB) and scatter^(DC) the enemy;
    shoot your arrows^(DD) and rout them.
⁷ Reach down your hand from on high;^(DE)
    deliver me and rescue me^(DF)
from the mighty waters,^(DG)
    from the hands of foreigners^(DH)
8 whose mouths are full of lies,^(DI)
    whose right hands^(DJ) are deceitful.^(DK)

⁹ I will sing a new song^(DL) to you, my God;
    on the ten-stringed lyre^(DM) I will make music to you,
¹⁰ to the One who gives victory to kings,^(DN)
    who delivers his servant David.^(DO)

From the deadly sword^{(DP) 11} deliver me;
    rescue me^(DQ) from the hands of foreigners^(DR)
whose mouths are full of lies,^(DS)
    whose right hands are deceitful.^(DT)

¹² Then our sons in their youth
    will be like well-nurtured plants,^(DU)
and our daughters will be like pillars^(DV)
    carved to adorn a palace.
¹³ Our barns will be filled^(DW)
    with every kind of provision.
Our sheep will increase by thousands,
    by tens of thousands in our fields;
¹⁴     our oxen^(DX) will draw heavy loads.^[g]
There will be no breaching of walls,^(DY)
    no going into captivity,
    no cry of distress in our streets.^(DZ)
15 Blessed is the people^(EA) of whom this is true;
    blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.

³ Great^(EG) is the Lord and most worthy of praise;^(EH)
    his greatness no one can fathom.^(EI)
4 One generation^(EJ) commends your works to another;
    they tell^(EK) of your mighty acts.^(EL)
5 They speak of the glorious splendor^(EM) of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.^[i](EN)
6 They tell^(EO) of the power of your awesome works—^(EP)
    and I will proclaim^(EQ) your great deeds.^(ER)
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness^(ES)
    and joyfully sing^(ET) of your righteousness.^(EU)

⁸ The Lord is gracious and compassionate,^(EV)
    slow to anger and rich in love.^(EW)

⁹ The Lord is good^(EX) to all;
    he has compassion^(EY) on all he has made.
¹⁰ All your works praise you,^(EZ) Lord;
    your faithful people extol^(FA) you.^(FB)
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom^(FC)
    and speak of your might,^(FD)
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts^(FE)
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.^(FF)
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,^(FG)
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy^(FH) in all he promises^(FI)
    and faithful in all he does.^[j]
14 The Lord upholds^(FJ) all who fall
    and lifts up all^(FK) who are bowed down.^(FL)
15 The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food^(FM) at the proper time.
¹⁶ You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires^(FN) of every living thing.

¹⁷ The Lord is righteous^(FO) in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.^(FP)
18 The Lord is near^(FQ) to all who call on him,^(FR)
    to all who call on him in truth.
¹⁹ He fulfills the desires^(FS) of those who fear him;^(FT)
    he hears their cry^(FU) and saves them.^(FV)
20 The Lord watches over^(FW) all who love him,^(FX)
    but all the wicked he will destroy.^(FY)

²¹ My mouth will speak^(FZ) in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature^(GA) praise his holy name^(GB)
    for ever and ever.