Psalm 140

¹Deliver me, O Lord, from evildoers; *protect me from the violent,

²Who devise evil in their hearts *and stir up strife all day long.

³They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; *adder’s poison is under their lips.

⁴Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; *protect me from the violent, who are determined to trip me up.

⁵The proud have hidden a snare for me and stretched out a net of cords; *they have set traps for me along the path.

⁶I have said to the Lord, “You are my God; *listen, O Lord, to my supplication.

⁷O Lord God, the strength of my salvation, *you have covered my head in the day of battle.

⁸Do not grant the desires of the wicked, O Lord, *nor let their evil plans prosper.

⁹Let not those who surround me lift up their heads; *let the evil of their lips overwhelm them.

¹⁰Let hot burning coals fall upon them; *let them be cast into the mire, never to rise up again.”

¹¹A slanderer shall not be established on the earth, *and evil shall hunt down the lawless.

¹²I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the poor *and render justice to the needy.

¹³Surely, the righteous will give thanks to your Name, *and the upright shall continue in your sight.