Psalm 140

PSALM 140

Rescue Me, O Yahweh, from Evil Men

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

^1aRescue me, O Yahweh, from evil men;

Guard me from ^bviolent men

²Who ^athink up evil things in their hearts;

They ^bcontinually stir up wars.

³They ^asharpen their tongues as a serpent;

^bPoison of an asp is under their lips. ¹Selah.

^4aKeep me, O Yahweh, from the hands of the wicked;

^bGuard me from violent men

Who ¹give thought to ^2ctrip up my steps.

⁵The proud have ^ahidden a trap for me, and cords;

They have spread a ^bnet by the ¹wayside;

They have set ^csnares for me. Selah.

⁶I ^asaid to Yahweh, “You are my God;

^bGive ear, O Yahweh, to the ^cvoice of my supplications.

⁷“O Yahweh, O Lord, ^athe strength of my salvation,

You have ^bcovered my head in the day of ¹battle.

⁸“Do not grant, O Yahweh, the ^adesires of the wicked;

Do not promote ^bhis evil ¹scheme, that they not be exalted. Selah.

⁹“As for the head of those who surround me,

May the ^atrouble from their lips cover them.

¹⁰“May ^aburning coals be shaken out upon them;

May He ^bcause them to fall into the fire,

Into ¹bottomless pits from which they ^ccan never rise.

¹¹“May a ¹slanderer not be established in the earth;

^aMay evil hunt the violent man ²speedily.”

¹²I know that Yahweh will ^amaintain the cause for the afflicted

And ^bjudgment for the needy.

¹³Surely the ^arighteous will give thanks to Your name;

The ^bupright will abide in Your presence.