Psalms 140

1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence,

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

2 who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long.

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

3 They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips.

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

4 Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked. Keep me safe from men of violence who scheme to make me stumble.

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 hide a snare for me; the cords of their net are spread along the path, and lures are set out for me.

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 say to the LORD, “You are my God.” Hear, O LORD, my cry for help.

I said to the Lord, Thou art my God; hearken, O Lord, to the voice of my supplication.

7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You shield my head in the day of battle.

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

8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not promote their evil plans, lest they be exalted.

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 May the heads of those who surround me be covered in the trouble their lips have caused.

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

10 May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again.

Coals of fire shall fall upon them on the earth; and thou shalt cast them down in afflictions: they shall not bear up [under them].

11 May no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence.

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

12 I know that the LORD upholds justice for the poor and defends the cause of the needy.

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

13 Surely the righteous will praise Your name; the upright will dwell in Your presence.

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