Psalms 140

1 “To the chief musician, a psalm of David.” Deliver me, O Lord, from an evil man; from a man of violence do thou keep me;

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

2 Who think over evil [resolves] in their heart, [who] every day are gathered together for war.

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

3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: the poison of the adder is under their lips. (Selah)

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

4 Preserve me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked, from the man of violence do thou keep me, who think of overthrowing my steps.

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

5 The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the side of [my] track; traps have they set for me. (Selah)

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

6 I have said unto the Lord, Thou art my God: give ear, O Lord, to the voice of my supplications.

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

7 O thou Eternal Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head on the day of battle.

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

8 Grant not, O Lord, the longings of the wicked; suffer not his wicked device to succeed: lest they exalt themselves. (Selah)

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

9 [As for] the heads of those that encompass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

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

10 Let burning coals be cast upon them: let them be thrown into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

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

11 Let not the man of an [evil] tongue be established on the earth: may evil hunt down the violent man to his downfall.

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

12 I know that the Lord will procure right for the afflicted, [and] justice for the needy.

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

13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell before thy presence.

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