Rescue Me, O Yahweh, from Evil Men

¹Rescue me, O Yahweh, from evil men;

Guard me from violent men

²Who think up evil things in their hearts;

They continually stir up wars.

³They sharpen their tongues as a serpent;

Poison of an asp is under their lips. Selah.

⁴¶Keep me, O Yahweh, from the hands of the wicked;

Guard me from violent men

Who give thought to trip up my steps.

⁵The proud have hidden a trap for me, and cords;

They have spread a net by the wayside;

They have set snares for me. Selah.

⁶¶I said to Yahweh, “You are my God;

Give ear, O Yahweh, to the voice of my supplications.

⁷“O Yahweh, O Lord, the strength of my salvation,

You have covered my head in the day of battle.

⁸“Do not grant, O Yahweh, the desires of the wicked;

Do not promote his evil scheme, that they not be exalted. Selah.

⁹¶“As for the head of those who surround me,

May the trouble from their lips cover them.

¹⁰“May burning coals be shaken out upon them;

May He cause them to fall into the fire,

Into bottomless pits from which they can never rise.

¹¹“May a slanderer not be established in the earth;[#140:11 Lit man of tongue]

May evil hunt the violent man speedily.”

¹²¶I know that Yahweh will maintain the cause for the afflicted

And judgment for the needy.

¹³Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name;

The upright will abide in Your presence.