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!

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

2 Their minds are busy plotting evil things, stirring up trouble all day long.

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

3 Their tongues are as sharp as those of snakes; viper's venom is on their lips. (Selah)

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.

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.

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

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)

[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.

6 I told the Lord, “You are my God! Lord, please listen to my cries for help!”

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

7 Lord God, my powerful Savior, you covered my head like a helmet on the day of battle.

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.

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)

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.

9 May the harm spoken against me by those who surround me fall back on them,

[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].

10 Let burning coals rain down on them! Let them be thrown into the fire, or into bottomless pits, never to rise again.

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

11 Don't let people who slander others live in our land. May disaster strike down violent people.

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

12 Yet I know the Lord defends the rights of those who are persecuted, and gives justice to the poor.

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

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.

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