Psalm 140–142

Psalm 140

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

¹Deliver me, O Jehovah, from the evil man;

Preserve me from the violent man:

²Who devise mischiefs in their heart;

Continually do they gather themselves together for war.

³They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent;

Adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah

⁴Keep me, O Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked;

Preserve me from the violent man:

Who have purposed to thrust aside my steps.

⁵The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords;

They have spread a net by the wayside;

They have set gins for me. Selah

⁶I said unto Jehovah, Thou art my God:

Give ear unto the voice of my supplications, O Jehovah.

⁷O Jehovah the Lord, the strength of my salvation,

Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

⁸Grant not, O Jehovah, the desires of the wicked;

Further not his evil device, lest they exalt themselves. Selah

⁹As for the head of those that compass me about,

Let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

¹⁰Let burning coals fall upon them:

Let them be cast into the fire,

Into deep pits, whence they shall not rise.

¹¹An evil speaker shall not be established in the earth:

Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

¹²I know that Jehovah will maintain the cause of the afflicted,

And justice for the needy.

¹³Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name:

The upright shall dwell in thy presence.

Psalm 141

A Psalm of David.

¹Jehovah, I have called upon thee; make haste unto me:

Give ear unto my voice, when I call unto thee.

²Let my prayer be set forth as incense before thee;

The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

³Set a watch, O Jehovah, before my mouth;

Keep the door of my lips.

⁴Incline not my heart to any evil thing,

To practise deeds of wickedness

With men that work iniquity:

And let me not eat of their dainties.

⁵Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness;

And let him reprove me, it shall be as oil upon the head;

Let not my head refuse it:

For even in their wickedness shall my prayer continue.

⁶Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock;

And they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.

⁷As when one ploweth and cleaveth the earth,

Our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

⁸For mine eyes are unto thee, O Jehovah the Lord:

In thee do I take refuge; leave not my soul destitute.

⁹Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me,

And from the gins of the workers of iniquity.

¹⁰Let the wicked fall into their own nets,

Whilst that I withal escape.

Psalm 142

Maschil of David, when he was in the cave; a Prayer.

¹I cry with my voice unto Jehovah;

With my voice unto Jehovah do I make supplication.

²I pour out my complaint before him;

I show before him my trouble.

³When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,

Thou knewest my path.

In the way wherein I walk

Have they hidden a snare for me.

⁴Look on my right hand, and see;

For there is no man that knoweth me:

Refuge hath failed me;

No man careth for my soul.

⁵I cried unto thee, O Jehovah;

I said, Thou art my refuge,

My portion in the land of the living.

⁶Attend unto my cry;

For I am brought very low:

Deliver me from my persecutors;

For they are stronger than I.

⁷Bring my soul out of prison,

That I may give thanks unto thy name:

The righteous shall compass me about;

For thou wilt deal bountifully with me.