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:

Unto the end, a psalm for David. Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: rescue me from the unjust man.

2 Who have devised mischiefs in their [heart], Every day, do they stir up wars:

Who have devised iniquities in their hearts: all the day long they designed battles.

3 They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent, —The poison of the asp, is under their lips. (Selah)

They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: the venom of saps is under their lips.

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 wicked: and from unjust men deliver me. Who have proposed to supplant my steps.

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 hidden a net for me. And they have stretched out cords for a snare: they have laid for me a stumblingblock by the wayside.

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: hear, O Lord, 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, Lord, the strength of my salvation: thou hast overshadowed 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)

Give me not up, O Lord, from my desire to the wicked: they have plotted against me; do not thou forsake me, lest they should triumph.

9 As for the head of them who surround me, Let the mischief of their lips cover them:

The head of them compassing me about: the labour of their lips shall overwhelm 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.

Burning coals shall fall upon them; thou wilt cast them down into the fire: in miseries they shall not be able to stand.

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 man full of tongue shall not be established in the earth: evil shall catch the unjust man unto 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 do justice to the needy, and will revenge the poor.

13 Surely, the righteous, shall give thanks to thy Name, the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

But as for the just, they shall give glory to thy name: and the upright shall dwell with thy countenance.