140
Prayer for Protection against the Wicked.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
ARescue me, O Lord, from evil men;
Preserve me from Bviolent men
Who Adevise evil things in their hearts;
They Bcontinually stir up wars.
They Asharpen their tongues as a serpent;
BPoison of a viper is under their lips. 1
Selah.
 
AKeep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
BPreserve me from violent men
Who have 1purposed to 2Ctrip up my feet.
The proud have Ahidden a trap for me, and cords;
They have spread a Bnet by the 1wayside;
They have set Csnares for me.
Selah.
 
I Asaid to the Lord, “You are my God;
BGive ear, O Lord, to the Cvoice of my supplications.
“O 1 God the Lord, Athe strength of my salvation,
You have Bcovered my head in the day of 2battle.
“Do not grant, O Lord, the Adesires of the wicked;
Do not promote Bhis evil device, that they not be exalted.
Selah.
 
“As for the head of those who surround me,
May the Amischief of their lips cover them.
10 “May Aburning coals fall upon them;
May they be Bcast into the fire,
Into 1deep pits from which they Ccannot rise.
11 “May a 1slanderer not be established in the earth;
AMay evil hunt the violent man 2speedily.”
 
12 I know that the Lord will Amaintain the cause of the afflicted
And Bjustice for the poor.
13  Surely the Arighteous will give thanks to Your name;
The Bupright will dwell in Your presence.
A 140:1 Ps 17:13; 59:2; 71:4 B 140:1 Ps 18:48; 86:14; 140:11 A 140:2 Ps 7:14; 36:4; 52:2; Prov 6:14; Is 59:4; Hos 7:15 B 140:2 Ps 56:6 A 140:3 Ps 57:4; 64:3 B 140:3 Ps 58:4; Rom 3:13; James 3:8 1 140:3 Selah may mean: Pause, Crescendo or Musical interlude A 140:4 Ps 71:4 B 140:4 Ps 140:1 1 140:4 Or devised 2 140:4 Lit push violently C 140:4 Ps 36:11 A 140:5 Job 18:9; Ps 35:7; 141:9; 142:3 B 140:5 Ps 31:4; 57:6; Lam 1:13 1 140:5 Lit track C 140:5 Ps 141:9; Is 8:14; Amos 3:5 A 140:6 Ps 16:2; 31:14 B 140:6 Ps 143:1 C 140:6 Ps 116:1; 130:2 1 140:7 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord A 140:7 Ps 28:8; 118:14 B 140:7 Ps 144:10 2 140:7 Lit weapons A 140:8 Ps 112:10 B 140:8 Esth 9:25; Ps 10:2, 3 A 140:9 Ps 7:16; Prov 18:7 A 140:10 Ps 11:6 B 140:10 Ps 21:9; Matt 3:10 1 140:10 Lit watery C 140:10 Ps 36:12 1 140:11 Lit man of tongue A 140:11 Ps 34:21 2 140:11 Lit thrust upon thrust A 140:12 1 Kin 8:45, 49; Ps 9:4; 18:27; 82:3 B 140:12 Ps 12:5; 35:10 A 140:13 Ps 97:12 B 140:13 Ps 11:7; 16:11; 17:15