Psalm 140–143
Prayer for Protection against the Wicked.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
1 aRescue me, O Lord, from evil men;
Preserve me from bviolent men
2 Who adevise evil things in their hearts;
They bcontinually stir up wars.
3 They asharpen their tongues as a serpent;
bPoison of a viper is under their lips.
1Selah.
4 aKeep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
bPreserve me from violent men
Who have 1purposed to 2ctrip up my feet.
5 The proud have ahidden a trap for me, and cords;
They have spread a bnet by the 1wayside;
They have set csnares for me.
Selah.
6 I asaid to the Lord, “You are my God;
bGive ear, O Lord, to the cvoice of my supplications.
7 “O 1God the Lord, athe strength of my salvation,
You have bcovered my head in the day of 2battle.
8 “Do not grant, O Lord, the adesires of the wicked;
Do not promote bhis evil device, that they not be exalted.
Selah.
9 “As for the head of those who surround me,
May the amischief of their lips cover them.
10 “May aburning coals fall upon them;
May they be bcast into the fire,
Into 1deep pits from which they ccannot rise.
11 “May a 1slanderer not be established in the earth;
aMay evil hunt the violent man 2speedily.”
12 I know that the Lord will amaintain the cause of the afflicted
And bjustice for the poor.
13 Surely the arighteous will give thanks to Your name;
The bupright will dwell in Your presence.
An Evening Prayer for Sanctification and Protection.
A Psalm of David.
1 O Lord, I call upon You; ahasten to me!
bGive ear to my voice when I call to You!
2 May my prayer be 1counted as aincense before You;
The blifting up of my hands as the cevening offering.
3 Set a aguard, O Lord, 1over my mouth;
Keep watch over the bdoor of my lips.
4 aDo not incline my heart to any evil thing,
To practice deeds 1of wickedness
With men who bdo iniquity;
And cdo not let me eat of their delicacies.
5 Let the arighteous smite me 1in kindness and reprove me;
It is boil upon the head;
Do not let my head refuse it,
2For still my prayer cis 3against their wicked deeds.
6 Their judges are athrown down by the sides of the rock,
And they hear my words, for they are pleasant.
7 As when one aplows and breaks open the earth,
Our bbones have been scattered at the cmouth of 1Sheol.
8 For my aeyes are toward You, O 1God, the Lord;
In You I btake refuge; cdo not 2leave me defenseless.
9 Keep me from the 1ajaws of the trap which they have set for me,
And from the bsnares of those who do iniquity.
10 Let the wicked afall into their own nets,
†Maskil of David, when he was •in the cave. A Prayer.
1 I acry aloud with my voice to the Lord;
I bmake supplication with my voice to the Lord.
2 I apour out my complaint before Him;
I declare my btrouble before Him.
3 When amy spirit 1was overwhelmed within me,
You knew my path.
In the way where I walk
They have bhidden a trap for me.
For there is ano one who regards me;
cNo one cares for my soul.
I said, “You are amy refuge,
My bportion in the cland of the living.
6 “aGive heed to my cry,
For I am bbrought very low;
Deliver me from my persecutors,
For they are too cstrong for me.
7 “aBring my soul out of prison,
So that I may give thanks to Your name;
The righteous will surround me,
For You will bdeal bountifully with me.”
Prayer for Deliverance and Guidance.
A Psalm of David.
aGive ear to my supplications!
Answer me in Your bfaithfulness, in Your crighteousness!
2 And ado not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For in Your sight bno man living is righteous.
3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life ato the ground;
He bhas made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead.
4 Therefore amy spirit 1is overwhelmed within me;
My heart is 2bappalled within me.
5 I aremember the days of old;
I bmeditate on all Your doings;
I cmuse on the work of Your hands.
6 I astretch out my hands to You;
My bsoul longs for You, as a 1parched land.
2Selah.
7 aAnswer me quickly, O Lord, my bspirit fails;
cDo not hide Your face from me,
Or I will become like dthose who go down to the pit.
8 Let me hear Your alovingkindness bin the morning;
For I trust cin You;
Teach me the dway in which I should walk;
For to You I elift up my soul.
9 aDeliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;
1I take refuge in You.
10 aTeach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Let bYour good Spirit clead me on level 1ground.
11 aFor the sake of Your name, O Lord, brevive me.
cIn Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.
12 And in Your lovingkindness, 1acut off my enemies
And bdestroy all those who afflict my soul,
For cI am Your servant.