Psalms 140

1 To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Free me, O Jehovah, from the evil man; preserve me from the violent man:

To him that excelleth. A Psalme of David. Deliuer me, O Lord, from the euill man: preserue me from the cruel man:

2 Who devise mischiefs in [their] heart; every day are they banded together for war.

Which imagine euill things in their heart, and make warre continually.

3 They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. (Selah)

They haue sharpened their tongues like a serpent: adders poyson is vnder their lips. (Selah)

4 Keep me, O Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked [man], preserve me from the violent man, who devise to overthrow my steps.

Keepe mee, O Lord, from the handes of the wicked: preserue mee from the cruell man, which purposeth to cause my steppes to slide.

5 The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the way-side; they have set traps for me. (Selah)

The proude haue layde a snare for me, and spred a nette with cordes in my pathway, and set grennes for me. (Selah)

6 I have said unto Jehovah, Thou art my God: give ear, O Jehovah, to the voice of my supplications.

Therefore I saide vnto the Lord, Thou art my God: heare, O Lord, the voyce of my prayers.

7 Jehovah, the Lord, is the strength of my salvation: thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

O Lord God the strength of my saluation, thou hast couered mine head in the day of battel.

8 Grant not, O Jehovah, the desire of the wicked; further not his device: they would exalt themselves. (Selah)

Let not the wicked haue his desire, O Lord: performe not his wicked thought, least they be proude. (Selah)

9 [As for] the head of those that encompass me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

As for the chiefe of them, that compasse me about, let the mischiefe of their owne lippes come vpon them.

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

Let coles fal vpon them: let him cast them into the fire, and into the deepe pits, that they rise not.

11 Let not the man of [evil] tongue be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the man of violence to [his] ruin.

For the backbiter shall not be established vpon the earth: euill shall hunt the cruell man to destruction.

12 I know that Jehovah will maintain the cause of the afflicted one, the right of the needy.

I know that the Lord will auenge the afflicted, and iudge the poore.

13 Yea, the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name; the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

Surely the righteous shall prayse thy Name, and the iust shall dwell in thy presence.