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.

For the end, a Psalm of David. Rescue me, O Lord, from the evil man; deliver me from the unjust man.

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

Who have devised injustice in their hearts; all the day they prepared war.

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

They have sharpened their tongue as [the tongue] of a serpent; the poison of asps is under their lips. (Pause)

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 hand of the sinner; rescue me from unjust men; 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 have stretched out ropes [for] snares for my feet; they set a stumbling block for me near the path. (Pause)

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

I said to the Lord, You are my God; listen, O Lord, to the voice of my supplication.

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

O Lord God, the strength of my salvation; you have screened 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)

Deliver me not, O Lord, to the sinner, according to my desire: they have devised [mischief] against me; forsake me not, lest they should be exalted. (Pause)

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

[As for] the head of them that compass me, the mischief of their lips shall cover them.

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

Coals of fire shall fall upon them on the earth; and you shall cast them down in afflictions: they shall not bear up [under them].

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

A talkative man shall not prosper on the earth: evils shall hunt the unrighteous man to destruction.

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 poor, and the right of the needy ones.

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

Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name: the upright shall dwell in your presence.