Psalm

Prayer for Help in the Face of Enemies

For the music director. A psalm of David.[a]

140 
Rescue me, O Yahweh, from evil men.[b]

Preserve me from violent men,

who plan evil things in their heart.

They stir up wars continually.

They sharpen their tongue as sharp as a snake’s;

the venom of a viper is under their lips. Selah

Protect me, O Yahweh, from the hands of the wicked.

Preserve me from violent men,

who have planned to make me stumble.[c]

The proud have hidden a trap for me, and cords.

They have spread out a net along the side[d] of the path.

They have set snares for me. Selah

I say to Yahweh, “You are my God.”

Listen, O Yahweh, to the voice of my supplications.

O Yahweh, my Lord, the strength of my salvation,

you have covered my head in the day of battle.

Do not grant, O Yahweh, the desires of the wicked.

Do not allow them to attain their[e] plan, lest they be exalted. Selah

With respect to the head of those who surround me,

may the harm of their lips cover them.

10 Let burning coals fall on them;

let them be dropped into the fire,

into bottomless pits from which they cannot rise.

11 Do not let a slanderer[f] be established in the land;

as for the man of violence, let evil hunt him quickly.

12 I know[g] that Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted,

and justice for the needy.

13 Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name;

the upright will dwell in your presence.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 140:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
  2. Psalm 140:1 The several uses of the singular “man” in this psalm are probably collective
  3. Psalm 140:4 Literally “push my steps”
  4. Psalm 140:5 Literally “hand”
  5. Psalm 140:8 Hebrew “his”
  6. Psalm 140:11 Literally “man of tongue”
  7. Psalm 140:12 According to the reading tradition (Qere)