Psalms 140

1 Unto the end. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, O Lord, from the evil man. Rescue me from the iniquitous leader.

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

2 Those who have devised iniquities in their hearts: all day long they constructed conflicts.

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 asps 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 Preserve me, O Lord, from the hand of the sinner, and rescue me from men of iniquity. They have decided 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 arrogant have hidden a snare for me. And they have stretched out cords for a snare. They have placed a stumbling block for me near the road.

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: You are my God. O Lord, heed the voice of my supplication.

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

7 Lord, O Lord, the strength of my salvation: you have overshadowed my head in the day of war.

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

8 O Lord, do not hand me over to the sinner by my desire. They have plotted against me. Do not abandon 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 those who encompass me, the labor of their lips, will overwhelm them.

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

10 Burning coals will fall upon them. You will cast them down into the fire, into miseries that they will not be able to withstand.

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 talkative man will not be guided aright upon the earth. Evils will drag the unjust man unto utter ruin.

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

12 I know that the Lord will accomplish justice for the needy and vindication for the poor.

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

13 So then, truly, the just will confess your name, and the upright will dwell with your countenance.

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