Psalms 140

1 To the leader. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, Lord, from evil people; from the violent guard me

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Deliver me, LORD, from evil men. Preserve me from violent men:

2 from those who plot evil in their heart, and stir up war continually:

those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war.

3 who make their tongue as sharp as a serpent’s, and under whose lips is the poison of adders. (Selah)

They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips. (Selah)

4 Preserve me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked, from the violent guard me from those who are plotting to trip up my feet.

LORD, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet.

5 The proud have hidden a trap for me, cords they have spread as a net for my feet: snares they have set at the side of my track. (Selah)

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)

6 I have said to the Lord, ‘My God are you; attend, Lord, to my loud plea.

I said to the LORD, “You are my God.” Listen to the cry of my petitions, LORD.

7 O Lord my Lord, my saviour mighty, you did cover my head in the day of battle.

LORD, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.

8 Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; and what they have purposed, promote you not.’ (Selah)

LORD, don’t grant the desires of the wicked. Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud. (Selah)

9 Let them not lift up their heads against me. May the mischief they prate bring themselves to destruction,

As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

10 may he rain upon them coals of fire, may he strike them down swiftly, to rise no more,

Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise.

11 no place in the land may there be for the slanderer: may the violent be hunted from sorrow to sorrow.

An evil speaker won’t be established in the earth. Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

12 I know that the Lord will do right by the weak, and will execute justice for those who are needy.

I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the needy.

13 Surely the righteous shall praise your name, and they who are upright shall live in your presence.

Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name. The upright will dwell in your presence.