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

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

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

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

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

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 sinner; rescue me from unjust men; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.

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 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)

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

I said to the Lord, You are my God; listen, O Lord, to 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 God, the strength of my salvation; you have screened 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)

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)

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

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

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

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].

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

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

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

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

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

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