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 leader. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, Lord, from evil people; from the violent guard me

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

from those who plot evil in their heart, and stir up war continually:

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

who make their tongue as sharp as a serpent’s, and under whose lips is the poison of adders. (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.

Preserve me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked, from the violent guard me from those who are plotting to trip up my feet.

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 hidden a trap for me, cords they have spread as a net for my feet: snares they have set at the side of my track. (Selah)

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

I have said to the Lord, ‘My God are you; attend, Lord, to my loud plea.

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

O Lord my Lord, my saviour mighty, you did cover 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; and what they have purposed, promote you not.’ (Selah)

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

Let them not lift up their heads against me. May the mischief they prate bring themselves to destruction,

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

may he rain upon them coals of fire, may he strike them down swiftly, to rise no more,

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

no place in the land may there be for the slanderer: may the violent be hunted from sorrow to sorrow.

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

I know that the Lord will do right by the weak, and will execute justice for those who are needy.

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

Surely the righteous shall praise your name, and they who are upright shall live in your presence.