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.
Unto the end, a psalm for David. Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: rescue me from the unjust man.
2 They are always planning to do evil things and they are always inciting/urging people to start quarrels.
Who have devised iniquities in their hearts: all the day long they designed battles.
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 have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: the venom of saps is under 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].
Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the wicked: and from unjust men deliver me. Who have proposed to supplant my steps.
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 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 say to you, “Yahweh, you are my God;” [so] listen to me while I cry out to you to help me.
I said to the Lord: Thou art my God: hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication.
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 Lord, Lord, the strength of my salvation: thou hast overshadowed 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.
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 [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].
The head of them compassing me about: the labour of their lips shall overwhelm them.
10 Cause burning coals to fall on their [heads]! Cause them to be thrown into deep pits, from which they cannot climb out!
Burning coals shall fall upon them; thou wilt cast them down into the fire: in miseries they shall not be able to stand.
11 Do not allow those who slander others to succeed; cause evil things to happen to violent men and destroy them!
A man full of tongue shall not be established in the earth: evil shall catch the unjust man unto destruction.
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 will do justice to the needy, and will revenge the poor.
13 Righteous [people] will surely thank you [MTY], and they will live (in your presence/with you).
But as for the just, they shall give glory to thy name: and the upright shall dwell with thy countenance.
