Psalm 140
Prayer for Rescue
For the choir director. A psalm of David.
1 Rescue me, Lord, from evil men.
Keep me safe from violent men(A)
2 who plan evil in their hearts.
They stir up wars all day long.(B)
3 They make their tongues
as sharp as a snake’s bite;
viper’s venom is under their lips.(C)Selah
4 Protect me, Lord,
from the power of the wicked.(D)
Keep me safe from violent men
who plan to make me stumble.[a](E)
5 The proud hide a trap with ropes for me;
they spread a net along the path
and set snares for me.(F)Selah
6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”
Listen, Lord, to my cry for help.(G)
7 Lord, my Lord, my strong Savior,
you shield my head on the day of battle.(H)
8 Lord, do not grant the desires of the wicked;
do not let them achieve their goals.
Otherwise, they will become proud.(I)Selah
9 When those who surround me rise up,[b]
may the trouble their lips cause overwhelm them.(J)
10 Let hot coals fall on them.
Let them be thrown into the fire,
into the abyss, never again to rise.(K)
11 Do not let a slanderer stay in the land.
Let evil relentlessly[c] hunt down a violent man.(L)
12 I[d] know that the Lord upholds
the just cause of the poor,
justice for the needy.(M)
13 Surely the righteous will praise your name;
the upright will live in your presence.(N)
Footnotes
- 140:4 Lit to trip up my steps
- 140:9 Lit Head of those who surround me
- 140:11 Hb obscure
- 140:12 Alt Hb tradition reads You
Cross references
- 140:1 : Ps 18:48; 71:4
- 140:2 : Ps 36:4; 56:6; Pr 6:14
- 140:3 : Ps 58:4; Rm 3:13; Jms 3:8
- 140:4 : Ps 71:4
- 140:4 : Ps 36:11
- 140:5 : Ps 35:7; 141:9; 142:3
- 140:6 : Ps 31:14; 130:2
- 140:7 : Ps 28:8; 118:14
- 140:8 : Ps 10:2–3
- 140:9 : Ps 7:16; Pr 18:7
- 140:10 : Ps 11:6; 36:12
- 140:11 : Ps 34:21
- 140:12 : 1Kg 8:45,49; Ps 9:4; 82:3
- 140:13 : Ps 11:7; 64:10