Add parallel Print Page Options

Psalm 140

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

To the leader. A Psalm of David.

Deliver me, O Lord, from evildoers;
    protect me from those who are violent,(A)
who plan evil things in their minds
    and stir up wars continually.(B)
They make their tongue sharp as a snake’s,
    and under their lips is the venom of vipers. Selah(C)

Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
    protect me from the violent
    who have planned my downfall.(D)
The arrogant have hidden a trap for me,
    and with cords they have spread a net,[a]
    along the road they have set snares for me. Selah(E)

I say to the Lord, “You are my God;
    give ear, O Lord, to the voice of my supplications.”(F)
O Lord, my Lord, my strong deliverer,
    you have covered my head in the day of battle.(G)
Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;
    do not further their evil plot.[b] Selah(H)

Those who surround me lift up their heads;[c]
    let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!(I)
10 Let burning coals fall on them!
    Let them be flung into pits, no more to rise!(J)
11 Do not let the slanderer be established in the land;
    let evil speedily hunt down the violent!(K)

12 I know that the Lord maintains the cause of the needy
    and executes justice for the poor.(L)
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
    the upright shall live in your presence.(M)

Psalm 141

Prayer for Preservation from Evil

A Psalm of David.

I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me;
    give ear to my voice when I call to you.(N)
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you
    and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.(O)

Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not turn my heart to any evil,
    to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with those who work iniquity;
    do not let me eat of their delicacies.(P)

Let the righteous strike me;
    let the faithful correct me.
Never let the oil of the wicked anoint my head,[d]
    for my prayer is continually[e] against their wicked deeds.(Q)
When they are given over to those who shall condemn them,
    then they shall learn that my words were pleasant.
Like a rock that one breaks apart and shatters on the land,
    so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol.[f](R)

But my eyes are turned toward you, O God, my Lord;
    in you I seek refuge; do not leave me defenseless.(S)
Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me
    and from the snares of evildoers.(T)
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
    while I alone escape.(U)

Psalm 142

Prayer for Deliverance from Persecutors

A Maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A Prayer.

With my voice I cry to the Lord;
    with my voice I make supplication to the Lord.(V)
I pour out my complaint before him;
    I tell my trouble before him.(W)
When my spirit is faint,
    you know my way.

In the path where I walk,
    they have hidden a trap for me.(X)
Look on my right hand and see:
    there is no one who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
    no one cares for me.(Y)

I cry to you, O Lord;
    I say, “You are my refuge,
    my portion in the land of the living.”(Z)
Listen to my cry,
    for I am brought very low.

Save me from my persecutors,
    for they are too strong for me.(AA)
Bring me out of prison,
    so that I may give thanks to your name.
The righteous will surround me,
    for you will deal bountifully with me.(AB)

Footnotes

  1. 140.5 Or they have spread cords as a net
  2. 140.8 Heb adds they are exalted
  3. 140.9 Cn: Heb those who surround me are uplifted in head
  4. 141.5 Gk: Meaning of Heb uncertain
  5. 141.5 Cn: Heb for continually and my prayer
  6. 141.7 Meaning of Heb of 141.5–7 is uncertain

Psalm 140[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Rescue me,(A) Lord, from evildoers;
    protect me from the violent,(B)
who devise evil plans(C) in their hearts
    and stir up war(D) every day.
They make their tongues as sharp as(E) a serpent’s;
    the poison of vipers(F) is on their lips.[b]

Keep me safe,(G) Lord, from the hands of the wicked;(H)
    protect me from the violent,
    who devise ways to trip my feet.
The arrogant have hidden a snare(I) for me;
    they have spread out the cords of their net(J)
    and have set traps(K) for me along my path.

I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”(L)
    Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.(M)
Sovereign Lord,(N) my strong deliverer,
    you shield my head in the day of battle.
Do not grant the wicked(O) their desires, Lord;
    do not let their plans succeed.

Those who surround me proudly rear their heads;
    may the mischief of their lips engulf them.(P)
10 May burning coals fall on them;
    may they be thrown into the fire,(Q)
    into miry pits, never to rise.
11 May slanderers not be established in the land;
    may disaster hunt down the violent.(R)

12 I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor(S)
    and upholds the cause(T) of the needy.(U)
13 Surely the righteous will praise your name,(V)
    and the upright will live(W) in your presence.(X)

Psalm 141

A psalm of David.

I call to you, Lord, come quickly(Y) to me;
    hear me(Z) when I call to you.
May my prayer be set before you like incense;(AA)
    may the lifting up of my hands(AB) be like the evening sacrifice.(AC)

Set a guard over my mouth,(AD) Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.(AE)
Do not let my heart(AF) be drawn to what is evil
    so that I take part in wicked deeds(AG)
along with those who are evildoers;
    do not let me eat their delicacies.(AH)

Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness;
    let him rebuke me(AI)—that is oil on my head.(AJ)
My head will not refuse it,
    for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,(AK)
    and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
They will say, “As one plows(AL) and breaks up the earth,(AM)
    so our bones have been scattered at the mouth(AN) of the grave.”

But my eyes are fixed(AO) on you, Sovereign Lord;
    in you I take refuge(AP)—do not give me over to death.
Keep me safe(AQ) from the traps set by evildoers,(AR)
    from the snares(AS) they have laid for me.
10 Let the wicked fall(AT) into their own nets,
    while I pass by in safety.(AU)

Psalm 142[c]

A maskil[d] of David. When he was in the cave.(AV) A prayer.

I cry aloud(AW) to the Lord;
    I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.(AX)
I pour out before him my complaint;(AY)
    before him I tell my trouble.(AZ)

When my spirit grows faint(BA) within me,
    it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
    people have hidden a snare for me.
Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
    no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;(BB)
    no one cares(BC) for my life.

I cry to you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my refuge,(BD)
    my portion(BE) in the land of the living.”(BF)

Listen to my cry,(BG)
    for I am in desperate need;(BH)
rescue me(BI) from those who pursue me,
    for they are too strong(BJ) for me.
Set me free from my prison,(BK)
    that I may praise your name.(BL)
Then the righteous will gather about me
    because of your goodness to me.(BM)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 140:1 In Hebrew texts 140:1-13 is numbered 140:2-14.
  2. Psalm 140:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 8.
  3. Psalm 142:1 In Hebrew texts 142:1-7 is numbered 142:2-8.
  4. Psalm 142:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term