Prayer for Protection against the Wicked.
For the music director. A Psalm of David.
Protect me from violent men
2 Who devise evil things in their hearts;
They continually stir up wars.
3 They sharpen their tongues like a snake;
The venom of a viper is under their lips. Selah
Protect me from violent men
Who [a]intend to [b]trip up my feet.
5 The proud have hidden a trap for me, and snares;
They have spread a net at the [c]wayside;
They have set snares for me. Selah
Listen, Lord, to the sound of my pleadings.
7 [d]God the Lord, the strength of my salvation,
You have covered my head on the day of [e]battle.
8 Do not grant, Lord, the desires of the wicked;
Do not bring about his evil planning, so that they are not exalted. Selah
May the harm of their lips cover them.
10 May burning coals fall upon them;
May they be cast into the fire,
Into bottomless pits from which they cannot rise.
11 May a [f]slanderer not endure on the earth;
May evil hunt a violent person [g]violently.”
And justice for the poor.
13 Certainly the righteous will give thanks to Your name;
The upright will dwell in Your presence.
Footnotes
- Psalm 140:4 Or devise
- Psalm 140:4 Lit push
- Psalm 140:5 Lit track
- Psalm 140:7 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
- Psalm 140:7 Lit weapons
- Psalm 140:11 Lit man of tongue
- Psalm 140:11 Lit blow upon blow