Psalms 140

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

Unto the end, a psalm for David. Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: rescue me from the unjust man.

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

Who have devised iniquities in their hearts: all the day long they designed battles.

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

They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: the venom of saps is under their lips.

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 Lord, from the hand of the wicked: and from unjust men deliver me. Who have proposed to supplant 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 net for me. And they have stretched out cords for a snare: they have laid for me a stumblingblock by the wayside.

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

I said to the Lord: Thou art my God: hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication.

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

O Lord, Lord, the strength of my salvation: thou hast overshadowed 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)

Give me not up, O Lord, from my desire to the wicked: they have plotted against me; do not thou forsake me, lest they should triumph.

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

The head of them compassing me about: the labour of their lips shall overwhelm them.

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

Burning coals shall fall upon them; thou wilt cast them down into the fire: in miseries they shall not be able to stand.

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

A man full of tongue shall not be established in the earth: evil shall catch the unjust man unto destruction.

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

I know that the Lord will do justice to the needy, and will revenge the poor.

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

But as for the just, they shall give glory to thy name: and the upright shall dwell with thy countenance.