Psalm 140

Psalm 140

PRAYER FOR RESCUE

For the choir director. A psalm of David.

¹Rescue me, Lord, from evil men.

Keep me safe from violent men^c

²who plan evil in their hearts.

They stir up wars all day long.^d

³They make their tongues

as sharp as a snake’s bite;

viper’s venom is under their lips.^e

Selah

⁴Protect me, Lord,

from the power of the wicked.^f

Keep me safe from violent men

who plan to make me stumble.^Fg

⁵The proud hide a trap with ropes for me;

they spread a net along the path

and set snares for me.^h

Selah

⁶I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”

Listen, Lord, to my cry for help.ⁱ

⁷Lord, my Lord, my strong Savior,

you shield my head on the day of battle.^j

⁸Lord, do not grant the desires of the wicked;

do not let them achieve their goals.

Otherwise, they will become proud.^k

Selah

⁹When those who surround me rise up,^A

may the trouble their lips cause overwhelm them.^l

¹⁰Let hot coals fall on them.

Let them be thrown into the fire,

into the abyss, never again to rise.^m

¹¹Do not let a slanderer stay in the land.

Let evil relentlessly^B hunt down a violent man.ⁿ

¹²I^C know that the Lord upholds

the just cause of the poor,

justice for the needy.^o

¹³Surely the righteous will praise your name;

the upright will live in your presence.^p