Psalms 140

1 To the Overseer. — A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O Jehovah, from an evil man, From one of violence Thou keepest me.

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;

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

Which imagine mischiefs in [their] heart; continually are they gathered together [for] war.

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

They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison [is] under their lips. (Selah)

4 Preserve me, Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked, From one of violence Thou keepest me, Who have devised to overthrow my steps.

Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.

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

The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. (Selah)

6 I have said to Jehovah, 'My God [art] Thou, Hear, Jehovah, the voice of my supplications.'

I said unto the LORD, Thou [art] my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.

7 O Jehovah, my Lord, strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of armour.

O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

8 Grant not, O Jehovah, the desires of the wicked, His wicked device bring not forth, They are high. (Selah)

Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; [lest] they exalt themselves. (Selah)

9 The chief of my surrounders, The perverseness of their lips covereth them.

[As for] the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

10 They cause to fall on themselves burning coals, Into fire He doth cast them, Into deep pits — they arise not.

Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

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

Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow [him].

12 I have known that Jehovah doth execute The judgment of the afflicted, The judgment of the needy.

I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, [and] the right of the poor.

13 Only — the righteous give thanks to Thy name, The upright do dwell with Thy presence!

Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.