Psalms 140

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

To the Chief Musician. A Melody of David. Rescue me, O Yahweh, from the men of mischief, From the men of violence, wilt thou preserve me:

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

Who have devised mischiefs in their [heart], Every day, do they stir up wars:

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

They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent, —The poison of the asp, is under their lips. (Selah)

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

Keep me, O Yahweh, from the hands of the lawless one, From the man of violence, wilt thou preserve me, —who have devised, to thrust at my steps:

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

The proud have hidden a snare for me, and, cords, have they spread as a net beside the track, Snares, have they set for me. (Selah)

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

I have said unto Yahweh, My GOD, thou art! Give ear, O Yahweh, unto the voice of my supplications.

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

O Yahweh, My Lord, my saving strength, thou hast screened my head in the day of battle.

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

Do not grant, O Yahweh, the desires of the lawless one, his device, do not promote, They would exalt themselves. (Selah)

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

As for the head of them who surround me, Let the mischief of their lips cover them:

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

May there be dropped on them live coals, —Into the fire, may they be let fall, into watery pits [from which] they shall not rise.

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

As for the slanderer, let him not be established in the earth, —As for the man of wrongful violence, let misfortune hunt him with thrust upon thrust.

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

I know that Yahweh will execute, the right of the oppressed one, the vindication of the needy.

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

Surely, the righteous, shall give thanks to thy Name, the upright shall dwell in thy presence.