For the music director; a psalm of David.
140:1 O Lord, rescue me from wicked men! 2
Protect me from violent men, 3
140:2 who plan ways to harm me. 4
All day long they stir up conflict. 5
140:3 Their tongues wound like a serpent; 6
a viper’s 7 venom is behind 8 their lips. (Selah)
140:4 O Lord, shelter me from the power 9 of the wicked!
Protect me from violent men,
who plan to knock me over. 10
140:5 Proud men hide a snare for me;
evil men 11 spread a net by the path;
they set traps for me. (Selah)
140:6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”
O Lord, pay attention to my plea for mercy!
140:7 O sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, 12
you shield 13 my head in the day of battle.
140:8 O Lord, do not let the wicked have their way! 14
Do not allow their 15 plan to succeed when they attack! 16 (Selah)
140:9 As for the heads of those who surround me –
may the harm done by 17 their lips overwhelm them!
140:10 May he rain down 18 fiery coals upon them!
May he throw them into the fire!
From bottomless pits they will not escape. 19
140:11 A slanderer 20 will not endure on 21 the earth;
calamity will hunt down a violent man and strike him down. 22
140:12 I know 23 that the Lord defends the cause of the oppressed
and vindicates the poor. 24
140:13 Certainly the godly will give thanks to your name;
the morally upright will live in your presence.