< Psalms 140 >

1 Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;
For the end, a Psalm of David. Rescue me, O Lord, from the evil man; deliver me from the unjust man.
2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
Who have devised injustice in their hearts; all the day they prepared war.
3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. (Selah)
They have sharpened their tongue as [the tongue] of a serpent; the poison of asps is under their lips. (Pause)
4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the sinner; rescue me from unjust men; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
5 The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for 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 said to the LORD, You are my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.
I said to the Lord, Thou art my God; hearken, O Lord, to the voice of my supplication.
7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.
O Lord God, the strength of my salvation; thou hast screened my head in the day of battle.
8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. (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 As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
[As for] the head of them that compass me, the mischief of their lips shall cover them.
10 Let burning coals fall on them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up 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 Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
A talkative man shall not prosper on the earth: evils shall hunt the unrighteous man to destruction.
12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the poor, and the right of the needy ones.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name: the upright shall dwell in your presence.
Surely the righteous shall give thanks to thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

< Psalms 140 >