Psalms 140
1 For the chief musician. A psalm of David. Yahweh, rescue me from the wicked; preserve me from violent men.
Yahweh, rescue/save me from [being attacked by] evil men; and [even more], (keep me safe/protect me) from being attacked by violent people.
2 They plan evil in their hearts; they cause battles every day.
They are always planning to do evil things and they are always inciting/urging people to start quarrels.
3 Their tongues wound like serpents; vipers' poison is on their lips. (Selah)
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.
4 Keep me from the hands of the wicked, Yahweh; preserve me from violent men who plan to knock me over.
Yahweh, protect me from the power [MTY] of wicked [people]. Keep me safe from violent men who plan to destroy me [SYN].
5 The proud have set a trap for me; they have spread a net; they have set a snare for me. (Selah)
[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.
6 I said to Yahweh, “You are my God; listen to my cries for mercy.”
I say to you, “Yahweh, you are my God;” [so] listen to me while I cry out to you to help me.
7 Yahweh, my Lord, you are powerfully able to save me; you shield my head in the day of battle.
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.
8 Yahweh, do not grant the desires of the wicked; do not let their plots succeed. (Selah)
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.
9 Those who surround me raise their heads; let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
[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].
10 Let burning coals fall on them; throw them into the fire, into bottomless pits, never more to rise.
Cause burning coals to fall on their [heads]! Cause them to be thrown into deep pits, from which they cannot climb out!
11 May men of tongues not be made secure on the earth; may evil hunt down the violent man to strike him dead.
Do not allow those who slander others to succeed; cause evil things to happen to violent men and destroy them!
12 I know that Yahweh will judge in favor of the afflicted, and that he will give justice to the needy.
Yahweh, I know that you defend those who are oppressed, and that you do what is just/fair for those who are needy/poor.
13 Surely the righteous people will give thanks to your name; the upright people will live in your presence.
Righteous [people] will surely thank you [MTY], and they will live (in your presence/with you).
