Psalms 140

1 TO THE OVERSEER. A PSALM OF DAVID. Deliver me, O YHWH, from an evil man, Keep me from one of violence.

To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Free me, O Jehovah, from the evil man; preserve me from the violent man:

2 Who have devised evils in the heart, All the day they assemble [for] wars.

Who devise mischiefs in [their] heart; every day are they banded together for war.

3 They sharpened their tongue as a serpent, Poison of a viper [is] under their lips. (Selah)

They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. (Selah)

4 Preserve me, YHWH, from the hands of the wicked, Keep me from one of violence, Who have devised to overthrow my steps.

Keep me, O Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked [man], preserve me from the violent man, who devise to overthrow my steps.

5 The proud hid a snare for me—and cords, They spread a net by the side of the path, They have set snares for me. (Selah)

The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the way-side; they have set traps for me. (Selah)

6 I have said to YHWH, “You [are] my God, Hear, YHWH, the voice of my supplications.”

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

7 O YHWH, my Lord, strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of armor.

Jehovah, the Lord, is the strength of my salvation: thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

8 Do not grant, O YHWH, the desires of the wicked, Do not bring forth his wicked scheme, They are high. (Selah)

Grant not, O Jehovah, the desire of the wicked; further not his device: they would exalt themselves. (Selah)

9 The chief of my surrounders, The perverseness of their lips covers them.

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

10 They cause burning coals to fall on themselves, He casts them into fire, Into deep pits—they do not arise.

Let burning coals fall on them; let them be cast into the fire; into deep waters, that they rise not up again.

11 A talkative man is not established in the earth, One of violence—evil hunts to overflowing.

Let not the man of [evil] tongue be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the man of violence to [his] ruin.

12 I have known that YHWH executes The judgment of the afflicted, The judgment of the needy.

I know that Jehovah will maintain the cause of the afflicted one, the right of the needy.

13 Surely the righteous give thanks to Your Name, The upright dwell with Your presence!

Yea, the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name; the upright shall dwell in thy presence.