1To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, (Ps 18:48; Ps 71:4; Ps 119:153; Ps 119:170; Pr 3:31)2who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually. (Ps 56:6)3They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s, and under their lips is the venom of asps. (Ps 10:7; Ps 52:2; Ps 58:4; Ro 3:13)4Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet. (Ps 140:1)5The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net;[1] beside the way they have set snares for me. (Job 18:8; Ps 35:7; Ps 64:5; Ps 141:9; Ps 142:3; Jer 18:22)6I say to the Lord, You are my God; give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O Lord! (Ps 28:2; Ps 31:22; Ps 130:2; Ps 142:5)7O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. (Ps 28:8)8Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; do not further their[2] evil plot, or they will be exalted! (Ps 35:25; Isa 14:21)9As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them! (Ps 7:16; Pr 12:13; Pr 18:7)10Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise! (Ps 11:6; Ps 18:13)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. (1Ki 8:45; 1Ki 8:49; 1Ki 8:59; Ps 9:4)13Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence. (Ps 11:7; Ps 64:10)
Psalm 140
New International Version
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1Rescue me, Lord, from evildoers; protect me from the violent,2who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day.3They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s; the poison of vipers is on their lips.[1]4Keep me safe, Lord, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent, who devise ways to trip my feet.5The arrogant have hidden a snare for me; they have spread out the cords of their net and have set traps for me along my path.6I say to the Lord, ‘You are my God.’ Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.7Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle.8Do not grant the wicked their desires, Lord; do not let their plans succeed.9Those who surround me proudly rear their heads; may the mischief of their lips engulf them.10May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, never to rise.11May slanderers not be established in the land; may disaster hunt down the violent.12I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.13Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence.
Psalm 140
King James Version
1To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;2Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.3They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders'poison is under their lips. Selah.4Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.5The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.6I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.7O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.8Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.9As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.10Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.11Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him .12I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.13Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.
Psalm 140
New International Reader’s Version
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1LORD, save me from sinful people. Keep me safe from those who want to hurt me.2They make evil plans in their hearts. They are always starting fights.3Their tongues are as deadly as the tongue of a snake. The words from their lips are like the poison of a snake.4LORD, keep me safe from the hands of sinful people. Protect me from those who want to hurt me. They plan ways to trip me up and make me fall.5Proud people have hidden their traps to catch me. They have spread out their nets. They have set traps for me along my path.6I say to the LORD, ‘You are my God.’ LORD, hear my cry for mercy.7LORD and King, you save me because you are strong. You are like a shield that keeps me safe in the day of battle.8LORD, don’t give sinners what they want. Don’t let their plans succeed.9Those who are all around me proudly raise their heads. May the trouble they planned for me happen to them.10May burning coals fall on people like that. May they be thrown into the fire. May they be thrown into muddy pits and never get out.11Don’t let people who lie about me be secure in the land. May trouble hunt down those who want to hurt me.12I know that the LORD makes sure that poor people are treated fairly. He stands up for those who are in need.13I’m sure that those who do right will praise your name. Those who are honest will live with you.