Psalm 140

¹Rescue me from evil people, LORD !

Guard me from violent people

²who plot evil things in their hearts,

who pick fights every single day!

³They sharpen their tongues like a snake’s;

spider poison is on their lips. Selah

⁴Protect me from the power of the wicked, LORD !

Guard me from violent people

⁵Arrogant people have laid a trap for me with ropes.

They’ve spread out a net alongside the road.

They’ve set snares for me. Selah

⁶I tell the LORD , “You are my God!

Listen to my request for mercy, LORD !”

⁷My LORD God, my strong saving help—

you’ve protected my head on the day of battle.

⁸LORD , don’t give the wicked what they want!

Don’t allow their plans to succeed,

or they’ll exalt themselves even more! Selah

⁹Let the heads of the people surrounding me

be covered with the trouble their own lips caused!

¹⁰Let burning coals fall on them!

Let them fall into deep pits and never get out again!

¹¹Let no slanderer be safe in the land.

Let calamity hunt down violent people—and quickly!

¹²I know that the LORD will take up the case of the poor

and will do what is right for the needy.

¹³Yes, the righteous will give thanks to your name,

and those who do right will live in your presence.