Psalms 140

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 [a]Rescue me, LORD, from evildoers; protect me from the violent,
2 who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day.
3 They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s; the poison of vipers is on their lips.[b]
4 Keep me safe, LORD, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent, who devise ways to trip my feet.
5 The 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.
6 I say to the LORD, “You are my God.” Hear, LORD, my cry for mercy.
7 Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle.
8 Do not grant the wicked their desires, LORD; do not let their plans succeed.
9 Those who surround me proudly rear their heads; may the mischief of their lips engulf them.
10 May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, never to rise.
11 May slanderers not be established in the land; may disaster hunt down the violent.
12 I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.
13 Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence.

Cross References 24

  • 1. Psalms 17:13; S Psalms 25:20; Psalms 59:2; Psalms 71:4; Psalms 142:6; Psalms 143:9
  • 2. ver 11; Psalms 86:14; Psalms 18:48
  • 3. Psalms 36:4; Psalms 56:6; Psalms 52:2; Proverbs 6:14; Proverbs 16:27; Isaiah 59:4; Hosea 7:15
  • 4. S Psalms 68:30
  • 5. Psalms 57:4
  • 6. Psalms 58:4; Romans 3:13*; James 3:8
  • 7. Psalms 141:9
  • 8. S Psalms 36:11; Psalms 71:4
  • 9. S Job 34:30; S Psalms 119:110
  • 10. S Job 18:8
  • 11. Job 18:9; Psalms 31:4; Psalms 35:7; S Psalms 38:12
  • 12. S Psalms 16:2
  • 13. S Psalms 28:2,6; Psalms 116:1; Psalms 143:1
  • 14. Psalms 68:20; Psalms 28:8
  • 15. Psalms 10:2-3; S Psalms 66:7
  • 16. Proverbs 18:7; Psalms 7:16
  • 17. Psalms 11:6; Psalms 21:9; S Matthew 3:10; Luke 12:49; Revelation 20:15
  • 18. S Psalms 34:21
  • 19. S Psalms 82:3
  • 20. S 1 Kings 8:45; Psalms 9:4
  • 21. S Psalms 35:10
  • 22. S Psalms 138:2; Psalms 97:12
  • 23. S Psalms 11:7
  • 24. Psalms 16:11

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. In Hebrew texts 140:1-13 is numbered 140:2-14.
  • [b]. The Hebrew has "Selah" (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 8.

Psalms 140 Commentaries

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