Psalms 140
1 For the music director. A psalm of David. Lord, please save me from those who do evil; protect me especially from those who are violent!
For the end, a Psalm of David. Rescue me, O Lord, from the evil man; deliver me from the unjust man.
2 Their minds are busy plotting evil things, stirring up trouble all day long.
Who have devised injustice in their hearts; all the day they prepared war.
3 Their tongues are as sharp as those of snakes; viper's venom is on their lips. (Selah)
They have sharpened their tongue as [the tongue] of a serpent; the poison of asps is under their lips. (Pause)
4 Lord, please keep me from falling into the hands of the wicked; protect me especially from those who are violent, who are plotting my downfall.
Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the sinner; rescue me from unjust men; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
5 Proud people have hidden a trap for me—they have strung out a net on the path, they have set snares to catch me. (Selah)
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 told the Lord, “You are my God! Lord, please listen to my cries for help!”
I said to the Lord, Thou art my God; hearken, O Lord, to the voice of my supplication.
7 Lord God, my powerful Savior, you covered my head like a helmet on the day of battle.
O Lord God, the strength of my salvation; thou hast screened my head in the day of battle.
8 God, don't allow the wicked to get what they want—don't let them be successful in what they plan so they don't become proud. (Selah)
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 harm spoken against me by those who surround me fall back on them,
[As for] the head of them that compass me, the mischief of their lips shall cover them.
10 Let burning coals rain down on them! Let them be thrown into the fire, or into bottomless 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 Don't let people who slander others live in our land. May disaster strike down violent people.
A talkative man shall not prosper on the earth: evils shall hunt the unrighteous man to destruction.
12 Yet I know the Lord defends the rights of those who are persecuted, and gives justice to the poor.
I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the poor, and the right of the needy ones.
13 Truly those who live right are thankful for the kind of person you are, and those who are honest will live in your presence.
Surely the righteous shall give thanks to thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.
