Psalms 140

1 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Deliver me, LORD, from evil men. Preserve me from violent men:

TO THE OVERSEER. A PSALM OF DAVID. Deliver me, O YHWH, from an evil man, Keep me from one of violence.

2 those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war.

Who have devised evils in the heart, All the day they assemble [for] wars.

3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips. (Selah)

They sharpened their tongue as a serpent, Poison of a viper [is] under their lips. (Selah)

4 LORD, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet.

Preserve me, YHWH, from the hands of the wicked, Keep me from one of violence, Who have devised to overthrow my steps.

5 The proud have hidden a snare for me, they have spread the cords of a net by the path. They have set traps for me. (Selah)

The proud hid a snare for me—and cords, They spread a net by the side of the path, They have set snares for me. (Selah)

6 I said to the LORD, “You are my God.” Listen to the cry of my petitions, LORD.

I have said to YHWH, “You [are] my God, Hear, YHWH, the voice of my supplications.”

7 LORD, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.

O YHWH, my Lord, strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of armor.

8 LORD, don’t grant the desires of the wicked. Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud. (Selah)

Do not grant, O YHWH, the desires of the wicked, Do not bring forth his wicked scheme, They are high. (Selah)

9 As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

The chief of my surrounders, The perverseness of their lips covers them.

10 Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise.

They cause burning coals to fall on themselves, He casts them into fire, Into deep pits—they do not arise.

11 An evil speaker won’t be established in the earth. Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

A talkative man is not established in the earth, One of violence—evil hunts to overflowing.

12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the needy.

I have known that YHWH executes The judgment of the afflicted, The judgment of the needy.

13 Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name. The upright will dwell in your presence.

Surely the righteous give thanks to Your Name, The upright dwell with Your presence!