Psalms 140

1 To the Chief Musician. A Melody of David. Rescue me, O Yahweh, from the men of mischief, From the men of violence, wilt thou preserve me:

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 mischiefs in their [heart], Every day, do they stir up wars:

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

3 They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent, —The poison of the asp, 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 Keep me, O Yahweh, from the hands of the lawless one, From the man of violence, wilt thou preserve me, —who have devised, to thrust at 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 have hidden a snare for me, and, cords, have they spread as a net beside the track, Snares, have they set 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 unto Yahweh, My GOD, thou art! Give ear, O Yahweh, unto the voice of my supplications.

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

7 O Yahweh, My Lord, my saving strength, thou hast screened 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 Do not grant, O Yahweh, the desires of the lawless one, his device, do not promote, They would exalt themselves. (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 As for the head of them who surround me, Let the mischief of their lips cover them:

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

10 May there be dropped on them live coals, —Into the fire, may they be let fall, into watery pits [from which] they shall not rise.

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 As for the slanderer, let him not be established in the earth, —As for the man of wrongful violence, let misfortune hunt him with thrust upon thrust.

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

12 I know that Yahweh will execute, the right of the oppressed one, the vindication 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, shall give thanks to 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.