Psalms 140

1 For the end, a Psalm of David. Rescue me, O Lord, from the evil man; deliver me from the unjust man.

For the chief musician. A psalm of David. Yahweh, rescue me from the wicked; preserve me from violent men.

2 Who have devised injustice in their hearts; all the day they prepared war.

They plan evil in their hearts; they cause battles every day.

3 They have sharpened their tongue as [the tongue] of a serpent; the poison of asps is under their lips. (Pause)

Their tongues wound like serpents; vipers' poison is on their lips. (Selah)

4 Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the sinner; rescue me from unjust men; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.

Keep me from the hands of the wicked, Yahweh; preserve me from violent men who plan to knock me over.

5 The proud have hid a snare for me, and have stretched out ropes [for] snares for my feet; they set a stumbling block for me near the path. (Pause)

The proud have set a trap for me; they have spread a net; they have set a snare for me. (Selah)

6 I said to the Lord, You are my God; listen, O Lord, to the voice of my supplication.

I said to Yahweh, “You are my God; listen to my cries for mercy.”

7 O Lord God, the strength of my salvation; you have screened my head in the day of battle.

Yahweh, my Lord, you are powerfully able to save me; you shield my head in the day of battle.

8 Deliver me not, O Lord, to the sinner, according to my desire: they have devised [mischief] against me; forsake me not, lest they should be exalted. (Pause)

Yahweh, do not grant the desires of the wicked; do not let their plots succeed. (Selah)

9 [As for] the head of them that compass me, the mischief of their lips shall cover them.

Those who surround me raise their heads; let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

10 Coals of fire shall fall upon them on the earth; and you shall cast them down in afflictions: they shall not bear up [under them].

Let burning coals fall on them; throw them into the fire, into bottomless pits, never more to rise.

11 A talkative man shall not prosper on the earth: evils shall hunt the unrighteous man to destruction.

May men of tongues not be made secure on the earth; may evil hunt down the violent man to strike him dead.

12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the poor, and the right of the needy ones.

I know that Yahweh will judge in favor of the afflicted, and that he will give justice to the needy.

13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name: the upright shall dwell in your presence.

Surely the righteous people will give thanks to your name; the upright people will live in your presence.