psalm

Deliver Me, O Lord, from Evil Men

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

140 
(A)Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men;
preserve me from (B)violent men,
who plan evil things in their heart
and ©stir up wars continually.
They make (D)their tongue sharp as (E)a serpent’s,
and (F)under their lips is the (G)venom of asps. Selah

Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
preserve me from (H)violent men,
who have planned to trip up my feet.
The arrogant have (I)hidden a trap for me,
and with cords they have spread (J)a net;[a]
beside the way they have set (K)snares for me. Selah

(L)I say to the Lord, You are my God;
give ear to (M)the voice of my pleas for mercy, O Lord!
O Lord, my Lord, (N)the strength of my salvation,
you have covered my head in the day of battle.
(O)Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;
do not further their[b] evil plot, or (P)they will be exalted! Selah

As for the head of those who surround me,
let (Q)the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
10 Let ®burning coals fall upon them!
Let them be cast into fire,
into miry pits, no more to rise!
11 Let not the slanderer be established in the land;
let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

12 I know that the Lord will (S)maintain the cause of the afflicted,
and (T)will execute justice for the needy.
13 Surely (U)the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
(V)the upright shall dwell in your presence.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 140:5 Or they have spread cords as a net
  2. Psalm 140:8 Hebrew his