Psalms 140

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

To the Chief Musician. A Melody of David. Rescue me, O Yahweh, from the men of mischief, From the men of violence, wilt thou preserve me:

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

Who have devised mischiefs in their [heart], Every day, do they stir up wars:

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

They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent, —The poison of the asp, is under their lips. (Selah)

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

Keep me, O Yahweh, from the hands of the lawless one, From the man of violence, wilt thou preserve me, —who have devised, to thrust at my steps:

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

The proud have hidden a snare for me, and, cords, have they spread as a net beside the track, Snares, have they set for me. (Selah)

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

I have said unto Yahweh, My GOD, thou art! Give ear, O Yahweh, unto the voice of my supplications.

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

O Yahweh, My Lord, my saving strength, thou hast screened my head in the day of battle.

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

Do not grant, O Yahweh, the desires of the lawless one, his device, do not promote, They would exalt themselves. (Selah)

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

As for the head of them who surround me, Let the mischief of their lips cover them:

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

May there be dropped on them live coals, —Into the fire, may they be let fall, into watery pits [from which] they shall not rise.

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

As for the slanderer, let him not be established in the earth, —As for the man of wrongful violence, let misfortune hunt him with thrust upon thrust.

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

I know that Yahweh will execute, the right of the oppressed one, the vindication of the needy.

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

Surely, the righteous, shall give thanks to thy Name, the upright shall dwell in thy presence.