Psalm 140

A Prayer for Protection against Persecutors

¹Deliver me, O Lord , from the evil man:

preserve me from the violent man;

²which imagine mischiefs in their heart;

continually are they gathered together for war.

³They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent;[#Rom 3.13.]

adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.

⁴Keep me, O Lord , from the hands of the wicked;

preserve me from the violent man;

who have purposed to overthrow my goings.

⁵The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords;

they have spread a net by the wayside;

they have set gins for me. Selah.

⁶I said unto the Lord , Thou art my God:

hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord .

⁷O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation,

thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

⁸Grant not, O Lord , the desires of the wicked:

further not his wicked device;

lest they exalt themselves. Selah.

⁹As for the head of those that compass me about,

let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

¹⁰Let burning coals fall upon them:

let them be cast into the fire;

into deep pits,

that they rise not up again.

¹¹Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth:

evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him .

¹²I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted,

and the right of the poor.

¹³Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name:

the upright shall dwell in thy presence.