Psalm 140

PSALM 140

Prayer for Protection against the Wicked.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

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

Preserve me from ^bviolent men

²Who ^adevise evil things in their hearts;

They ^bcontinually stir up wars.

³They ^asharpen their tongues as a serpent;

^bPoison of a viper is under their lips.

¹Selah.

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

^bPreserve me from violent men

Who have ¹purposed to ^2ctrip up my feet.

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 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.”

¹²I know that the Lord will ^amaintain the cause of the afflicted

And ^bjustice for the poor.

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

The ^bupright will dwell in Your presence.