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 leader of the music. A psalm of David.” Deliver me, O LORD! from the evil man, Save me from the man of violence,

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

Who meditate mischief in their heart, And daily stir up 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; The poison of the adder 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.

Defend me, O LORD! from the hands of the wicked, Preserve me from the man of violence, Who have purposed to cause my fall! (Pause)

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 snares and cords for me; They have spread a net by the way-side; They have set traps for me.

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

I say to Jehovah, Thou art my God; Hear, O Jehovah! the voice of my supplication!

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

The Lord Jehovah is my saving strength: Thou shelterest 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 LORD! the desires of the wicked; Let not their devices prosper; Let them not exalt themselves!

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

As for the heads of those who 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 upon them; May they be cast into the fire, And into deep waters from which they shall not arise!

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

The slanderer shall not be established upon the earth; Evil shall pursue the violent 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 afflicted, And the right of the poor.

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

Yea, the righteous shall praise thy name; The upright shall dwell in thy presence!