Psalms 140

1 Unto the end, a psalm for David. Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: rescue me from the unjust man.

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

2 Who have devised iniquities in their hearts: all the day long they designed battles.

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

3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: the venom of saps is under their lips.

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

4 Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the wicked: and from unjust men deliver me. Who have proposed to supplant my steps.

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

5 The proud have hidden a net for me. And they have stretched out cords for a snare: they have laid for me a stumblingblock by the wayside.

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)

6 I said to the Lord: Thou art my God: hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication.

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

7 O Lord, Lord, the strength of my salvation: thou hast overshadowed my head in the day of battle.

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

8 Give me not up, O Lord, from my desire to the wicked: they have plotted against me; do not thou forsake me, lest they should triumph.

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)

9 The head of them compassing me about: the labour of their lips shall overwhelm them.

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

10 Burning coals shall fall upon them; thou wilt cast them down into the fire: in miseries they shall not be able to stand.

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].

11 A man full of tongue shall not be established in the earth: evil shall catch the unjust man unto destruction.

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

12 I know that the Lord will do justice to the needy, and will revenge the poor.

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

13 But as for the just, they shall give glory to thy name: and the upright shall dwell with thy countenance.

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