Psalm 140
Title
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד
1Deliver me, Yahweh, from evil men. Preserve me from violent men: 2those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war. 3They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips. Selah. 4Yahweh, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet. 5The proud have hidden a snare for me, they have spread the cords of a net by the path. They have set traps for me. Selah. 6I said to Yahweh, “You are my God.” Listen to the cry of my petitions, Yahweh. 7Yahweh, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. 8Yahweh, don’t grant the desires of the wicked. Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud. Selah. 9As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them. 10Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise. 11An evil speaker won’t be established on the earth. Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him. 12I know that Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the needy. 13Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name. The upright will dwell in your presence.
Introduction
Psalms 140
This and the four following psalms are much of a piece, and the scope of them the same with many that we met with in the beginning and middle of the book of Psalms, though with but few of late. They were penned by David (as it should seem) when he was persecuted by Saul; one of them is said to be his "prayer when he was in the cave," and it is probable that all the rest were penned about the same time. In this psalm, I. David complains of the malice of his enemies, and prays to God to preserve him from them (Psa 140:1-5). II. He encourages himself in God as his God (Psa 140:6, Psa 140:7). III. He prays for, and prophesies, the destruction of his persecutors (Psa 140:8-11). IV. He assures all God's afflicted people that their troubles would in due time end well (Psa 140:12, Psa 140:13), with which assurance we must comfort ourselves, and one another, in singing this psalm.
To the chief musician. A psalm of David.
Cross-references: Ps 140:1 · Ps 140:6 · Ps 140:7 · Ps 140:8 · Ps 140:12 · Ps 140:13