Psalm 140–142

PSALM 140

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

¹Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men;

preserve me from violent men,

²who plan evil things in their heart,

and stir up wars continually.

³They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s,

and under their lips is the poison of vipers. Selah

⁴Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;

preserve me from violent men,

who have planned to trip up my feet.

⁵Arrogant men have hidden a trap for me,

and with cords they have spread a net,

by the wayside they have set snares for me. Selah

⁶I say to the Lord, Thou art my God;

give ear to the voice of my supplications, O Lord!

⁷O Lord, my Lord, my strong deliverer,

thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

⁸Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;

do not further his evil plot! Selah

⁹Those who surround me lift up their head,^z

let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!

¹⁰Let burning coals fall upon them!

Let them be cast into pits, no more to rise!

¹¹Let not the slanderer be established in the land;

let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

¹²I know that the Lord maintains the cause of the afflicted,

and executes justice for the needy.

¹³Surely the righteous shall give thanks to thy name;

the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

PSALM 141

A Psalm of David.

¹I call upon thee, O Lord; make haste to me!

Give ear to my voice, when I call to thee!

²Let my prayer be counted as incense before thee,

and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice!

³Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord,

keep watch over the door of my lips!

⁴Incline not my heart to any evil,

to busy myself with wicked deeds

in company with men who work iniquity;

and let me not eat of their dainties!

⁵Let a good man strike or rebuke me in kindness,

but let the oil of the wicked never anoint my head;^a

for my prayer is continually^b against their wicked deeds.

⁶When they are given over to those who shall condemn them,

then they shall learn that the word of the Lord is true.

⁷As a rock which one cleaves and shatters on the land,

so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol.

⁸But my eyes are toward thee, O Lord God;

in thee I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!

⁹Keep me from the trap which they have laid for me,

and from the snares of evildoers!

¹⁰Let the wicked together fall into their own nets,

while I escape.

PSALM 142

A Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer.

¹I cry with my voice to the Lord,

with my voice I make supplication to the Lord,

²I pour out my complaint before him,

I tell my trouble before him.

³When my spirit is faint,

thou knowest my way!

In the path where I walk

they have hidden a trap for me.

⁴I look to the right and watch,

but there is none who takes notice of me;

no refuge remains to me,

no man cares for me.

⁵I cry to thee, O Lord;

I say, Thou art my refuge,

my portion in the land of the living.

⁶Give heed to my cry;

for I am brought very low!

Deliver me from my persecutors;

for they are too strong for me!

⁷Bring me out of prison,

that I may give thanks to thy name!

The righteous will surround me;

for thou wilt deal bountifully with me.