Psalms 140

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

For the music director. A psalm of David. Lord, please save me from those who do evil; protect me especially from those who are violent!

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

Their minds are busy plotting evil things, stirring up trouble all day long.

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

Their tongues are as sharp as those of snakes; viper's venom is on 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.

Lord, please keep me from falling into the hands of the wicked; protect me especially from those who are violent, who are plotting my downfall.

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)

Proud people have hidden a trap for me—they have strung out a net on the path, they have set snares to catch me. (Selah)

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

I told the Lord, “You are my God! Lord, please listen to my cries for help!”

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

Lord God, my powerful Savior, you covered my head like a helmet on 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)

God, don't allow the wicked to get what they want—don't let them be successful in what they plan so they don't become proud. (Selah)

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

May the harm spoken against me by those who surround me fall back on 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 rain down on them! Let them be thrown into the fire, or into bottomless pits, never to rise again.

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

Don't let people who slander others live in our land. May disaster strike down violent people.

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

Yet I know the Lord defends the rights of those who are persecuted, and gives justice to the poor.

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

Truly those who live right are thankful for the kind of person you are, and those who are honest will live in your presence.