Psalms 140

1 For the end, a Psalm of David. Rescue me, O Lord, from the evil man; deliver me from the unjust man.

To the leader. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, Lord, from evil people; from the violent guard me

2 Who have devised injustice in their hearts; all the day they prepared war.

from those who plot evil in their heart, and stir up war continually:

3 They have sharpened their tongue as [the tongue] of a serpent; the poison of asps is under their lips. (Pause)

who make their tongue as sharp as a serpent’s, and under whose lips is the poison of adders. (Selah)

4 Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the sinner; rescue me from unjust men; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.

Preserve me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked, from the violent guard me from those who are plotting to trip up my feet.

5 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)

The proud have hidden a trap for me, cords they have spread as a net for my feet: snares they have set at the side of my track. (Selah)

6 I said to the Lord, You are my God; listen, O Lord, to the voice of my supplication.

I have said to the Lord, “My God are you; attend, Lord, to my loud plea.

7 O Lord God, the strength of my salvation; you have screened my head in the day of battle.

O Lord my Lord, my savior mighty, you did cover my head in the day of battle.

8 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)

Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; and what they have purposed, promote you not.” (Selah)

9 [As for] the head of them that compass me, the mischief of their lips shall cover them.

Let them not lift up their heads against me. May the mischief they prate bring themselves to destruction,

10 Coals of fire shall fall upon them on the earth; and you shall cast them down in afflictions: they shall not bear up [under them].

may he rain upon them coals of fire, may he strike them down swiftly, to rise no more,

11 A talkative man shall not prosper on the earth: evils shall hunt the unrighteous man to destruction.

no place in the land may there be for the slanderer: may the violent be hunted from sorrow to sorrow.

12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the poor, and the right of the needy ones.

I know that the Lord will do right by the weak, and will execute justice for those who are needy.

13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name: the upright shall dwell in your presence.

Surely the righteous shall praise your name, and they who are upright shall live in your presence.