Deliver Me, O Lord, from Evil Men

140 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1  yDeliver me, O Lord, from evil men;

preserve me from zviolent men,

2  who plan evil things in their heart

and astir up wars continually.

3  They make btheir tongue sharp as ca serpent’s,

and dunder their lips is the evenom of asps. Selah

4  Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;

preserve me from zviolent men,

who have planned to trip up my feet.

5  The arrogant have fhidden a trap for me,

and with cords they have spread ga net;1

beside the way they have set hsnares for me. Selah

6  iI say to the Lord, You are my God;

give ear to jthe voice of my pleas for mercy, O Lord!

7  O Lord, my Lord, kthe strength of my salvation,

you have covered my head in the day of battle.

8  lGrant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;

do not further their2 evil plot, or mthey will be exalted! Selah

9  As for the head of those who surround me,

let nthe mischief of their lips overwhelm them!

10  Let oburning coals fall upon them!

Let them be cast into fire,

into miry pits, no more to rise!

11  Let not the slanderer be established in the land;

let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

12  I know that the Lord will pmaintain the cause of the afflicted,

and qwill execute justice for the needy.

13  Surely rthe righteous shall give thanks to your name;

sthe upright shall dwell in your presence.