Psalms 140

1 “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,

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

2 Who meditate mischief in their heart, And daily stir up war!

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

3 They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; The poison of the adder is under their lips. (Pause)

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

4 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)

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

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

I said to the Lord, Thou art my God; hearken, O Lord, to the voice of my supplication.

7 The Lord Jehovah is my saving strength: Thou shelterest my head in the day of battle!

O Lord God, the strength of my salvation; thou hast screened my head in the day of battle.

8 Grant not, O LORD! the desires of the wicked; Let not their devices prosper; Let them not exalt themselves!

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 As for the heads of those who encompass me, Let the mischief of their own lips cover them!

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

10 Let burning coals fall upon them; May they be cast into the fire, And into deep waters from which they shall not arise!

Coals of fire shall fall upon them on the earth; and thou shalt cast them down in afflictions: they shall not bear up [under them].

11 The slanderer shall not be established upon the earth; Evil shall pursue the violent man to destruction.

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

12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, And the right of the poor.

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

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

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