Psalms 140
1 Yahweh, rescue/save me from [being attacked by] evil men; and [even more], (keep me safe/protect me) from being attacked by violent people.
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence,
2 They are always planning to do evil things and they are always inciting/urging people to start quarrels.
who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long.
3 By what they say [MTY] [they injure people like] poisonous snakes do; the words that they speak [MTY] [can kill people as easily as] cobras/vipers do.
They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips.
4 Yahweh, protect me from the power [MTY] of wicked [people]. Keep me safe from violent men who plan to destroy me [SYN].
Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked. Keep me safe from men of violence who scheme to make me stumble.
5 [It is as though] proud people have set a trap for me; [it is as though] they have spread their nets to catch me; [it is as though] they have put those things along the road to catch/seize me.
The proud hide a snare for me; the cords of their net are spread along the path, and lures are set out for me.
6 I say to you, “Yahweh, you are my God;” [so] listen to me while I cry out to you to help me.
I say to the LORD, “You are my God.” Hear, O LORD, my cry for help.
7 Yahweh, my Lord, you are the one who defends me strongly; you have [protected me] during battles [MET] [as though you had put a helmet on] my head.
O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You shield my head in the day of battle.
8 Yahweh, do allow wicked [people] to do the things that they desire, and do not allow them to do the [evil things that] they plan to do.
Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not promote their evil plans, lest they be exalted.
9 [Do not allow] my enemies to (become proud/defeat me); cause the evil things that they say [MTY] they will do to me to happen to them, [instead].
May the heads of those who surround me be covered in the trouble their lips have caused.
10 Cause burning coals to fall on their [heads]! Cause them to be thrown into deep pits, from which they cannot climb out!
May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again.
11 Do not allow those who slander others to succeed; cause evil things to happen to violent men and destroy them!
May no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence.
12 Yahweh, I know that you defend those who are oppressed, and that you do what is just/fair for those who are needy/poor.
I know that the LORD upholds justice for the poor and defends the cause of the needy.
13 Righteous [people] will surely thank you [MTY], and they will live (in your presence/with you).
Surely the righteous will praise Your name; the upright will dwell in Your presence.
