Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Prayer for Deliverance from Evil Men
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
140 Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men;
Preserve me from violent men,
2 Who plan evil things in their hearts;
(A)They continually gather together for war.
3 They sharpen their tongues like a serpent;
The (B)poison of asps is under their lips. Selah
4 (C)Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
Preserve me from violent men,
Who have purposed to make my steps stumble.
5 The proud have hidden a (D)snare for me, and cords;
They have spread a net by the wayside;
They have set traps for me. Selah
6 I said to the Lord: “You are my God;
Hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord.
7 O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation,
You have [a]covered my head in the day of battle.
8 Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;
Do not further his wicked scheme,
(E)Lest they be exalted. Selah
9 “As for the head of those who surround me,
Let the evil of their lips cover them;
10 (F)Let burning coals fall upon them;
Let them be cast into the fire,
Into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
11 Let not a slanderer be established in the earth;
Let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him.”
12 I know that the Lord will (G)maintain
The cause of the afflicted,
And justice for the poor.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name;
The upright shall dwell in Your presence.
16 Thus says the Lord of hosts:
“Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you.
They make you worthless;
(A)They speak a vision of their own heart,
Not from the mouth of the Lord.
17 They continually say to those who despise Me,
‘The Lord has said, (B)“You shall have peace” ’;
And to everyone who (C)walks according to the [a]dictates of his own heart, they say,
(D)‘No evil shall come upon you.’ ”
18 For (E)who has stood in the counsel of the Lord,
And has perceived and heard His word?
Who has marked His word and heard it?
19 Behold, a (F)whirlwind of the Lord has gone forth in fury—
A violent whirlwind!
It will fall violently on the head of the wicked.
20 The (G)anger of the Lord will not turn back
Until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart.
(H)In the latter days you will understand it perfectly.
Persecutions Are Coming(A)
16 (B)“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. (C)Therefore be wise as serpents and (D)harmless[a] as doves. 17 But beware of men, for (E)they will deliver you up to councils and (F)scourge you in their synagogues. 18 (G)You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 (H)But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For (I)it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 (J)for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21 (K)“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And (L)you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. (M)But he who endures to the end will be saved. 23 (N)When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have (O)gone through the cities of Israel (P)before the Son of Man comes.
24 (Q)“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If (R)they have called the master of the house [b]Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.