Psalm 140

Deliver Me, O Lord, from Evil Men

140To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

^1yDeliver me, O Lord, from evil men;

preserve me from ^zviolent men,

²who plan evil things in their heart

and ^astir up wars continually.

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

and ^dunder their lips is the ^evenom of asps. Selah

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

preserve me from ^zviolent men,

who have planned to trip up my feet.

⁵The 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

⁶ⁱI say to the Lord, You are my God;

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

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

you have covered my head in the day of battle.

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

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

⁹As for the head of those who surround me,

let ⁿthe mischief of their lips overwhelm them!

¹⁰Let ^oburning coals fall upon them!

Let them be cast into fire,

into miry pits, no more to rise!

¹¹Let not the slanderer be established in the land;

let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

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

and ^qwill execute justice for the needy.

¹³Surely ^rthe righteous shall give thanks to your name;

^sthe upright shall dwell in your presence.