USB ~ Psalms 140

Prayer for Deliverance from the Wicked

1 For the leader. A psalm of David.

2 Deliver me, LORD, from the wicked; preserve me from the violent, a

3 From those who plan evil in their hearts, who stir up conflicts every day,

4 † Who sharpen their tongue like a serpent, venom of asps upon their lips. b Selah

5 Keep me, LORD, from the clutches of the wicked; preserve me from the violent, who plot to trip me up. c

6 † The arrogant have set a trap for me; they have spread out ropes for a net, laid snares for me by the wayside. Selah

7 I say to the LORD: You are my God; d listen, LORD, to the words of my pleas.

8 LORD, my master, my strong deliverer, you cover my head on the day of armed conflict.

9 LORD, do not grant the desires of the wicked one; do not let his plot succeed. Selah

III

10 Those who surround me raise their heads; may the mischief they threaten overwhelm them.

11 Drop burning coals upon them; e cast them into the watery pit never more to rise.

12 Slanderers will not survive on earth; evil will hunt down the man of violence to overthrow him.

13 For I know the LORD will take up the cause of the needy, justice for the poor.

14 Then the righteous will give thanks to your name; the upright will dwell in your presence. f * Psalm 140 A lament seeking rescue from violent and treacherous foes (Ps 140:2-6). The psalmist remains trusting (Ps 140:7-8), vigorously praying that the plans of the wicked recoil upon themselves (Ps 140:9-12). A serene statement of praise ends the Psalm (Ps 140:13). The psalmist is content to be known as one of “the needy,” “the poor,” “the just,” “the upright” (Ps 140:13), a class of people expecting divine protection.

Footnotes

†. 140:4 Similar metaphors for a wicked tongue are used in Ps 52:2; 55:20; 58:3 .

†. 140:6 Have set a trap…have spread out ropes for a net: the same figure, of hunters setting traps, occurs in Ps 9:16; 31:5; 35:7; 64:6, cf. Mt 22:15; Lk 11:54.

140:2 Ps 71:4.
140:4 Ps 64:4; Rom 3:13.
140:5 Jer 18:22; Ps 56:7; 57:7.
140:7 Ps 31:15.
140:11 Ps 11:6; 120:4; Gn 19:24.
140:14 Ps 11:7; 16:11; 17:15.