Psalm 14042

For the music director; a psalm of David.

140:1 O Lord, rescue me from wicked men!1

Protect me from violent men,2

140:2 who plan ways to harm me.3

All day long they stir up conflict.4

140:3 Their tongues wound like a serpent;5

a viper’s6 venom is behind7 their lips.

(Selah)

140:4 O Lord, shelter me from the power8 of the wicked!

Protect me from violent men,

who plan to knock me over.9

140:5 Proud men hide a snare for me;

evil men10 spread a net by the path;

they set traps for me.

(Selah)

140:6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”

O Lord, pay attention to my plea for mercy!

140:7 O sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer,11

you shield12 my head in the day of battle.

140:8 O Lord, do not let the wicked have their way!13

Do not allow their14 plan to succeed when they attack!15

(Selah)

140:9 As for the heads of those who surround me—

may the harm done by16 their lips overwhelm them!

140:10 May he rain down17 fiery coals upon them!

May he throw them into the fire!

From bottomless pits they will not escape.18

140:11 A slanderer19 will not endure on20 the earth;

calamity will hunt down a violent man and strike him down.21

140:12 I know22 that the Lord defends the cause of the oppressed

and vindicates the poor.23

140:13 Certainly the godly will give thanks to your name;

the morally upright will live in your presence.