Psalms 140

1 Yahweh, rescue/save me from [being attacked by] evil men; and [even more], (keep me safe/protect me) from being attacked by violent people.

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

2 They are always planning to do evil things and they are always inciting/urging people to start quarrels.

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

3 By what they say [MTY] [they injure people like] poisonous snakes do; the words that they speak [MTY] [can kill people as easily as] cobras/vipers do.

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

4 Yahweh, protect me from the power [MTY] of wicked [people]. Keep me safe from violent men who plan to destroy me [SYN].

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.

5 [It is as though] proud people have set a trap for me; [it is as though] they have spread their nets to catch me; [it is as though] they have put those things along the road to catch/seize me.

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)

6 I say to you, “Yahweh, you are my God;” [so] listen to me while I cry out to you to help me.

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

7 Yahweh, my Lord, you are the one who defends me strongly; you have [protected me] during battles [MET] [as though you had put a helmet on] my head.

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

8 Yahweh, do allow wicked [people] to do the things that they desire, and do not allow them to do the [evil things that] they plan to do.

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

9 [Do not allow] my enemies to (become proud/defeat me); cause the evil things that they say [MTY] they will do to me to happen to them, [instead].

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

10 Cause burning coals to fall on their [heads]! Cause them to be thrown into deep pits, from which they cannot climb out!

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

11 Do not allow those who slander others to succeed; cause evil things to happen to violent men and destroy them!

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

12 Yahweh, I know that you defend those who are oppressed, and that you do what is just/fair for those who are needy/poor.

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

13 Righteous [people] will surely thank you [MTY], and they will live (in your presence/with you).

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