Psa 140 | CPDV | STEP | A Psalm of David. O Lord, I have cried out to you, hear me. Attend to my voice, when I cry out to you.

Psalms 140

Domine, clamavi.

A prayer against sinful words, and deceitful flatterers.

1 A Psalm of David.

O Lord, I have cried out to you, hear me.
Attend to my voice, when I cry out to you.
2 Let my prayer be guided like incense in your sight:
the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice.
3 O Lord, station a guard over my mouth and a door enclosing my lips.
4 Do not turn aside my heart to words of malice,
to making excuses for sins, with men who work iniquity;
and I will not communicate, even with the best of them.
5 The just one will correct me with mercy, and he will rebuke me.
But do not allow the oil of the sinner to fatten my head.
For my prayer will still be toward their good will. ^{▼▼140:5This last part is saying that we should not only pray for what sinners need, but even for what is pleasing to them, as long as it is good for them. Even though the Just One rebukes me, and God rightly keeps me from getting a fat head by association with sinners, I still pray for what sinners need and even whatever good things will please them.(Conte)
,} ^{▼▼140:5 Let not the oil of the sinner, etc: That is, the flattery, or deceitful praise.(Challoner)
,} ^{▼▼140:5 For my prayer, etc: So far from coveting their praises, who are never well pleased but with things that are evil; I shall continually pray to be preserved from such things as they are delighted with.(Challoner)}
6 Their judges have been engulfed, joined to the rocks.
They will hear my words, which have prevailed, ^{▼▼140:6 Their judges, etc: Their rulers, or chiefs, quickly vanish and perish, like ships dashed against the rocks, and swallowed up by the waves. Let them then hear my words, for they are powerful and will prevail; or, as it is in the Hebrew, for they are sweet.(Challoner)}
7 as when the lava of the earth has erupted above ground.
Our bones have been scattered beside Hell.
8 For Lord, O Lord, my eyes look to you.
In you, I have hoped. Do not take away my soul.
9 Protect me from the snare that they have set up for me and from the scandals of those who work iniquity.
10 The sinners will fall into his net.
I am alone, until I pass over. ^{▼▼140:10 I am alone, etc: Singularly protected by the Almighty, until I pass all their nets and snares.(Challoner)}