Psalms, 140

For the director. A melody of David.

¹ Rescue me, O Jehovah, from bad men;^*1 May you safeguard me even from the man of deeds of violence,

² Those who have schemed bad things in [their] heart, Who all day long keep attacking as in wars.

³ They have sharpened their tongue like that of a serpent; The venom of the horned viper is under their lips. Seʹlah.

⁴ Keep me, O Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked one; May you safeguard me even from the man^*1 of deeds of violence, Those who have schemed to push my steps.

⁵ The self-exalted ones have hidden a trap for me; And ropes they have spread out as a net at the side of the track. Snares they have set for me. Seʹlah.

⁶ I have said to Jehovah:^*1 “You are my God.^*2 Do give ear, O Jehovah, to the voice of my entreaties.”

⁷ O Jehovah the Sovereign Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have screened over my head in the day of the armed force.

⁸ Do not grant, O Jehovah, the cravings of the wicked one. Do not promote his plotting, that they may not be exalted. Seʹlah.

⁹ As for the heads of those surrounding me, May the trouble of their own lips cover them.

¹⁰ May burning coals be dropped upon them. Let them be made to fall into the fire, into watery pits, that they may not get up.

¹¹ The big talker^*1—let him not be firmly established in the earth. The man of violence—let evil itself hunt him with repeated thrusts.

¹² I well know that Jehovah will execute The legal claim of the afflicted one, the judgment of the poor ones.

¹³ Surely the righteous themselves will give thanks to your name; The upright ones will dwell before your face.