PSALM 140

¹For the lead player, a David psalm.

    ²Free me, LORD, from evil folk,

          from a violent man preserve me.

    ³Who plot evil in their heart,

          each day stir up battles.

    ⁴ They sharpen their tongue like a serpent,

          venom of spiders beneath their lip.

selah

    ⁵Guard me, LORD, from the wicked man’s hands,

           from a violent man preserve me,

              who plots to trip up my steps.

    ⁶The haughty laid down a trap for me,

           and with cords they spread out a net.

              Alongside the path they set snares for me.

selah

    ⁷I said to the LORD, “My God are You.

          Hearken, O LORD, to the sound of my pleas.”

    ⁸ LORD, Master, my rescuing strength,

          You sheltered my head on the day of the fray.

    ⁹ Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked,

           do not fulfill his devising.

              They would rise.

selah

    ¹⁰May the mischief of their own lips

           cover the heads of those who come round me.

    ¹¹ May He rain coals of fire upon them,

          make them fall into ravines, never to rise.

    ¹² May no slanderer stand firm in the land,

          may the violent evil man be trapped in pitfalls.

    ¹³I know that the LORD will take up

          the cause of the lowly, the case of the needy.

    ¹⁴Yes, the righteous will acclaim Your name,

          the upright will dwell in Your presence.