Psalm 140

Psalm 140

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

¹Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men;

Preserve me from violent men,

²Who plan evil things in their hearts;

^aThey continually gather together for war.

³They sharpen their tongues like a serpent;

The ^bpoison of asps is under their lips.

Selah

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

Preserve me from violent men,

Who have purposed to make my steps stumble.

⁵The proud have hidden a ^dsnare for me, and cords;

They have spread a net by the wayside;

They have set traps for me.

Selah

⁶I said to the Lord: “You are my God;

Hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord.

⁷O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation,

You have ¹covered my head in the day of battle.

⁸Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;

Do not further his wicked scheme,

^eLest they be exalted.

Selah

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

Let the evil of their lips cover them;

^10fLet burning coals fall upon them;

Let them be cast into the fire,

Into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

¹¹Let not a slanderer be established in the earth;

Let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him.”

¹²I know that the Lord will ^gmaintain

The cause of the afflicted,

And justice for the poor.

¹³Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name;

The upright shall dwell in Your presence.