Psalms 140

¹A Psalm of David. O Lord, I have cried out to you, hear me. Attend to my voice, when I cry out to you.

²Let my prayer be guided like incense in your sight: the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice.

³O Lord, station a guard over my mouth and a door enclosing my lips.

⁴Do not turn aside my heart to words of malice, to making excuses for sins, with men who work iniquity; and I will not communicate, even with the best of them.

⁵The just one will correct me with mercy, and he will rebuke me. But do not allow the oil of the sinner to fatten my head. For my prayer will still be toward their good will.

⁶Their judges have been engulfed, joined to the rocks. They will hear my words, which have prevailed,

⁷as when the lava of the earth has erupted above ground. Our bones have been scattered beside Hell.

⁸For Lord, O Lord, my eyes look to you. In you, I have hoped. Do not take away my soul.

⁹Protect me from the snare that they have set up for me and from the scandals of those who work iniquity.

¹⁰The sinners will fall into his net. I am alone, until I pass over.

Psalms 140

¹Deliver 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.