Psalms 140

1 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:

Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;

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

Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.

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

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

4 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:

Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.

5 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)

The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. (Selah)

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

I said to the LORD, You are my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.

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

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

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

Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. (Selah)

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

As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

10 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.

Let burning coals fall on them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

11 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.

Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

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

I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.

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

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