Psalm 140:1–13

¹Rescue me,^v Lord, from evildoers;

protect me from the violent,^w

²who devise evil plans^x in their hearts

and stir up war^y every day.

³They make their tongues as sharp as^z a serpent’s;

the poison of vipers^a is on their lips.^b

⁴Keep me safe,^b Lord, from the hands of the wicked;^c

protect me from the violent,

who devise ways to trip my feet.

⁵The arrogant have hidden a snare^d for me;

they have spread out the cords of their net^e

and have set traps^f for me along my path.

⁶I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”^g

Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.^h

⁷Sovereign Lord,ⁱ my strong deliverer,

you shield my head in the day of battle.

⁸Do not grant the wicked^j their desires, Lord;

do not let their plans succeed.

⁹Those who surround me proudly rear their heads;

may the mischief of their lips engulf them.^k

¹⁰May burning coals fall on them;

may they be thrown into the fire,^l

into miry pits, never to rise.

¹¹May slanderers not be established in the land;

may disaster hunt down the violent.^m

¹²I know that the Lord secures justice for the poorⁿ

and upholds the cause^o of the needy.^p

¹³Surely the righteous will praise your name,^q

and the upright will live^r in your presence.^s