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Psalm 140
Good News Translation

A Prayer for Protection[a]

140 Save me, Lord, from evildoers;
    keep me safe from violent people.
2 They are always plotting evil,
    always stirring up quarrels.
3 (A)Their tongues are like deadly snakes;
    their words are like a cobra's poison.

4 Protect me, Lord, from the power of the wicked;
    keep me safe from violent people
    who plot my downfall.
5 The proud have set a trap for me;
    they have laid their snares,
    and along the path they have set traps to catch me.

6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”
    Hear my cry for help, Lord!
7 My Sovereign Lord, my strong defender,
    you have protected me in battle.
8 Lord, don't give the wicked what they want;
    don't let their plots succeed.

9 Don't let my enemies be victorious;[b]
    make their threats against me fall back on them.
10 May red-hot coals fall on them;
    may they be thrown into a pit and never get out.
11 May those who accuse others falsely not succeed;
    may evil overtake violent people and destroy them.

12 Lord, I know that you defend the cause of the poor
    and the rights of the needy.
13 The righteous will praise you indeed;
    they will live in your presence.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 140:1 HEBREW TITLE: A psalm by David.
  2. Psalm 140:9 Probable text Don't let my enemies be victorious; Hebrew unclear.
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Psalm 140
New International Version

Psalm 140[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

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

4 Keep me safe,(G) Lord, from the hands of the wicked;(H)
    protect me from the violent,
    who devise ways to trip my feet.
5 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.

6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”(L)
    Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.(M)
7 Sovereign Lord,(N) my strong deliverer,
    you shield my head in the day of battle.
8 Do not grant the wicked(O) 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.(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)

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.
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