Psalms 140

Prayer for Deliverance from Evil Men

¹Deliver me, O Lord , from evil men;

Preserve me from violent men,

²Who plan evil things in their hearts;

They continually gather together for war.

³They sharpen their tongues like a serpent;

The poison of asps is under their lips.

Selah

⁴Keep me, O Lord , from the hands of the wicked;[#Ps. 58:4; Rom. 3:13; James 3:8]

Preserve me from violent men,

Who have purposed to make my steps stumble.

⁵The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords;[#Ps. 71:4]

They have spread a net by the wayside;

They have set traps for me.

Selah

⁶I said to the Lord : “You are my God;

Hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord .

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

You have covered my head in the day of battle.

⁸Do not grant, O Lord , the desires of the wicked;

Do not further his wicked scheme,

Lest they be exalted.

Selah

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

Let the evil of their lips cover them;

¹⁰Let burning coals fall upon them;[#Deut. 32:27]

Let them be cast into the fire,

Into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

¹¹Let not a slanderer be established in the earth;

Let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him. ”

¹²I know that the Lord will maintain[#Ps. 11:6]

The cause of the afflicted,

And justice for the poor.

¹³Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name;

The upright shall dwell in Your presence.