Psalms

The fifth book of Psalms, song 140, New English Translation and King James Version

Psalm 140

New English Translation

For the music director; a psalm of David.

   1 O LORD, rescue me from wicked men! Protect me from violent men,
   2 who plan ways to harm me. All day long they stir up conflict.
   3 Their tongues wound like a serpent; a viper's venom is behind their lips. (Selah)
   4 O LORD, shelter me from the power of the wicked! Protect me from violent men, who plan to knock me over.
   5 Proud men hide a snare for me; evil men spread a net by the path; they set traps for me. (Selah)
   6 I say to the LORD, "You are my God." O LORD, pay attention to my plea for mercy!
   7 O sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle.
   8 O LORD, do not let the wicked have their way! Do not allow their plan to succeed when they attack! (Selah)
   9 As for the heads of those who surround me - may the harm done by their lips overwhelm them!
   10 May he rain down fiery coals upon them! May he throw them into the fire! From bottomless pits they will not escape.
   11 A slanderer will not endure on the earth; calamity will hunt down a violent man and strike him down.
   12 I know that the LORD defends the cause of the oppressed and vindicates the poor.
   13 Certainly the godly will give thanks to your name; the morally upright will live in your presence.

King James Version

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

   1 Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;
   2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
   3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.
   4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
   5 The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.
   6 I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.
   7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
   8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
   9 As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
   10 Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
   11 Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
   12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
   13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.