Psa 140 | NASB1995 | STEP | For the choir director. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, O Lord , from evil men ; Preserve me from violent men

Psalms 140

Prayer for Protection against the Wicked.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

1 ^aRescue me, O Lord, from evil men;
Preserve me from ^bviolent men
2 Who ^cdevise evil things in their hearts;
They ^dcontinually stir up wars.
3 They ^esharpen their tongues as a serpent;
^fPoison of a viper is under their lips. ^{▼▼ Selah may mean: Pause, Crescendo or Musical interlude}Selah.

4 ^hKeep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
ⁱPreserve me from violent men
Who have ^{▼▼ Or devised}purposed to ^{▼▼ Lit push violently
,} ^ltrip up my feet.
5 The proud have ^mhidden a trap for me, and cords;
They have spread a ⁿnet by the ^{▼▼ Lit track}wayside;
They have set ^psnares for me. Selah.

6 I ^qsaid to the Lord, “You are my God;
^rGive ear, O Lord, to the ^svoice of my supplications.
7 “O ^{▼▼ Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord}God the Lord, ^uthe strength of my salvation,
You have ^vcovered my head in the day of ^{▼▼ Lit weapons}battle.
8 “Do not grant, O Lord, the ^xdesires of the wicked;
Do not promote ^yhis evil device, that they not be exalted. Selah.

9 “As for the head of those who surround me,
May the ^zmischief of their lips cover them.
10 “May ^aaburning coals fall upon them;
May they be ^abcast into the fire,
Into ^{▼▼ Lit watery}deep pits from which they ^adcannot rise.
11 “May a ^{▼▼ Lit man of tongue}slanderer not be established in the earth;
^afMay evil hunt the violent man ^{▼▼ Lit thrust upon thrust}speedily.”

12 I know that the Lord will ^ahmaintain the cause of the afflicted
And ^aijustice for the poor.
13 Surely the ^ajrighteous will give thanks to Your name;
The ^akupright will dwell in Your presence.