Psalm 140

Deliver Me, O Lord, from Evil Men

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

¹Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men;

preserve me from violent men,

²who plan evil things in their heart

and stir up wars continually.

³They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's,

and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah

⁴Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;

preserve me from violent men,

who have planned to trip up my feet.

⁵The arrogant have hidden a trap for me,

and with cords they have spread a net;

beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah

⁶I say to the Lord, You are my God;

give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O Lord!

⁷O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation,

you have covered my head in the day of battle.

⁸Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;

do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah

⁹As for the head of those who surround me,

let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!

¹⁰Let burning coals fall upon them!

Let them be cast into fire,

into miry pits, no more to rise!

¹¹Let not the slanderer be established in the land;

let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

¹²I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted,

and will execute justice for the needy.

¹³Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;

the upright shall dwell in your presence.