Free me, O Jehovah, from the evil man; preserve me from the violent man: Who devise mischiefs in their heart; every day are they banded together for war. They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah. Keep me, O Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked man, preserve me from the violent man, who devise to overthrow my steps. The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the way-side; they have set traps for me. Selah. I have said unto Jehovah, Thou art my •God: give ear, O Jehovah, to the voice of my supplications. Jehovah, the Lord, is the strength of my salvation: thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

⁸Grant not, O Jehovah, the desire of the wicked; further not his device: they would exalt themselves. Selah. ⁹As for the head of those that encompass me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them. ¹⁰Let burning coals fall on them; let them be cast into the fire; into deep waters, that they rise not up again. ¹¹Let not the man of evil tongue be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the man of violence to his ruin. ¹²I know that Jehovah will maintain the cause of the afflicted one, the right of the needy. ¹³Yea, the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name; the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

Psalm 141

A Psalm of David.

Jehovah, I have called upon thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I call unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening oblation. Set a watch, O Jehovah, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise deeds of wickedness with men that are workers of iniquity; and let me not eat of their dainties.

⁵Let the righteous smite me, it is kindness; and let him reprove me, it is an excellent oil which my head shall not refuse: for yet my prayer also is for them in their calamities. ⁶When their judges are thrown down from the rocks, they shall hear my words, for they are sweet. ⁷Our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth. ⁸For unto thee, Jehovah, Lord, are mine eyes; in thee do I trust: leave not my soul destitute. ⁹Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, and from the traps of the workers of iniquity. ¹⁰Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal pass over.

Psalm 142

An instruction of David; when he was in the cave: a prayer.

I cry unto Jehovah with my voice: with my voice unto Jehovah do I make supplication. I pour out my plaint before him; I shew before him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they hidden a snare for me.

⁴Look on the right hand and see; there is no man that knoweth me: refuge hath failed me; no man careth for my soul. ⁵I cried unto thee, 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 celebrate thy name. The righteous shall surround me, because thou dealest bountifully with me.

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