1Rescue me, Lord, from evildoers; protect me from the violent,2who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day.3They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s; the poison of vipers is on their lips.[1]4Keep me safe, Lord, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent, who devise ways to trip my feet.5The arrogant have hidden a snare for me; they have spread out the cords of their net and have set traps for me along my path.6I say to the Lord, ‘You are my God.’ Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.7Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle.8Do not grant the wicked 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.10May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, never to rise.11May slanderers not be established in the land; may disaster hunt down the violent.12I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.13Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence.
Psalm 140
English Standard Version
Deliver Me, O Lord, from Evil Men
1To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, (Ps 18:48; Ps 71:4; Ps 119:153; Ps 119:170; Pr 3:31)2who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually. (Ps 56:6)3They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s, and under their lips is the venom of asps. (Ps 10:7; Ps 52:2; Ps 58:4; Ro 3:13)4Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet. (Ps 140:1)5The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net;[1] beside the way they have set snares for me. (Job 18:8; Ps 35:7; Ps 64:5; Ps 141:9; Ps 142:3; Jer 18:22)6I say to the Lord, You are my God; give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O Lord! (Ps 28:2; Ps 31:22; Ps 130:2; Ps 142:5)7O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. (Ps 28:8)8Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; do not further their[2] evil plot, or they will be exalted! (Ps 35:25; Isa 14:21)9As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them! (Ps 7:16; Pr 12:13; Pr 18:7)10Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise! (Ps 11:6; Ps 18:13)11Let not the slanderer be established in the land; let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!12I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. (1Ki 8:45; 1Ki 8:49; 1Ki 8:59; Ps 9:4)13Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence. (Ps 11:7; Ps 64:10)