RESCUE ME FROM EVILDOERS
Key verse: 12
NIV
Psalm 140[a]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 Rescue me,(A) Lord, from evildoers;
protect me from the violent,(B)
2 who devise evil plans(C) in their hearts
and stir up war(D) every day.
3 They make their tongues as sharp as(E) a serpent’s;
the poison of vipers(F) is on their lips.[b]
4 Keep me safe,(G) Lord, from the hands of the wicked;(H)
protect me from the violent,
who devise ways to trip my feet.
5 The arrogant have hidden a snare(I) for me;
they have spread out the cords of their net(J)
and have set traps(K) for me along my path.
6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”(L)
Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.(M)
7 Sovereign Lord,(N) my strong deliverer,
you shield my head in the day of battle.
8 Do not grant the wicked(O) their desires, Lord;
do not let their plans succeed.
Footnotes
- Psalm 140:1 In Hebrew texts 140:1-13 is numbered 140:2-14.
- Psalm 140:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 8.
Cross references
- Psalm 140:1 : Ps 17:13; S 25:20; 59:2; 71:4; 142:6; 143:9
- Psalm 140:1 : ver 11; Ps 86:14
- Psalm 140:2 : Ps 36:4; 52:2; Pr 6:14; 16:27; Isa 59:4; Hos 7:15
- Psalm 140:2 : S Ps 68:30
- Psalm 140:3 : Ps 57:4
- Psalm 140:3 : Ps 58:4; Ro 3:13*; Jas 3:8
- Psalm 140:4 : Ps 141:9
- Psalm 140:4 : S Ps 36:11
- Psalm 140:5 : S Job 34:30; S Ps 119:110
- Psalm 140:5 : S Job 18:8
- Psalm 140:5 : Job 18:9; Ps 31:4; S 38:12
- Psalm 140:6 : S Ps 16:2
- Psalm 140:6 : S Ps 28:2, 6
- Psalm 140:7 : Ps 68:20
- Psalm 140:8 : Ps 10:2-3; S 66:7
- Psalm 140:9 : Pr 18:7
- Psalm 140:10 : Ps 11:6; 21:9; S Mt 3:10; Lk 12:49; Rev 20:15
- Psalm 140:11 : S Ps 34:21
- Psalm 140:12 : S Ps 82:3
- Psalm 140:12 : S 1Ki 8:45
- Psalm 140:12 : S Ps 35:10
- Psalm 140:13 : S Ps 138:2
- Psalm 140:13 : S Ps 11:7
- Psalm 140:13 : Ps 16:11
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Deliver Me, O Lord, from Evil Men
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.140 (A)Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men;
preserve me from (B)violent men,
2 who plan evil things in their heart
and (C)stir up wars continually.
3 They make (D)their tongue sharp as (E)a serpent's,
and (F)under their lips is the (G)venom of asps. Selah
4 Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
preserve me from (H)violent men,
who have planned to trip up my feet.
5 The arrogant have (I)hidden a trap for me,
and with cords they have spread (J)a net;[a]
beside the way they have set (K)snares for me. Selah
6 (L)I say to the Lord, You are my God;
give ear to (M)the voice of my pleas for mercy, O Lord!
7 O Lord, my Lord, (N)the strength of my salvation,
you have covered my head in the day of battle.
8 (O)Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;
do not further their[b] evil plot, or (P)they will be exalted! Selah
9 As for the head of those who surround me,
let (Q)the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
10 Let (R)burning coals fall upon them!
Let them be cast into fire,
into miry pits, no more to rise!
11 Let not the slanderer be established in the land;
let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!
12 I know that the Lord will (S)maintain the cause of the afflicted,
and (T)will execute justice for the needy.
13 Surely (U)the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
(V)the upright shall dwell in your presence.
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Footnotes
- Psalm 140:5 Or they have spread cords as a net
- Psalm 140:8 Hebrew his
Cross references
- Psalm 140:1 : Ps. 71:4; 119:153, 170
- Psalm 140:1 : Ps. 18:48; Prov. 3:31
- Psalm 140:2 : See Ps. 56:6
- Psalm 140:3 : [Ps. 52:2]
- Psalm 140:3 : Ps. 58:4
- Psalm 140:3 : Ps. 10:7
- Psalm 140:3 : Cited Rom. 3:13
- Psalm 140:4 : [See ver. 1 above]; Ps. 18:48; Prov. 3:31
- Psalm 140:5 : Ps. 35:7; 141:9; 142:3; Jer. 18:22
- Psalm 140:5 : Job 18:8-10
- Psalm 140:5 : Ps. 64:5
- Psalm 140:6 : Ps. 142:5
- Psalm 140:6 : Ps. 28:2; 31:22; 130:2
- Psalm 140:7 : Ps. 28:8
- Psalm 140:8 : [Ps. 35:25]
- Psalm 140:8 : Isa. 14:21
- Psalm 140:9 : [Prov. 12:13; 18:7]; See Ps. 7:16
- Psalm 140:10 : [Ps. 11:6; 18:13]
- Psalm 140:12 : Ps. 9:4
- Psalm 140:12 : 1 Kgs. 8:45, 49, 59
- Psalm 140:13 : [Ps. 64:10]
- Psalm 140:13 : [Ps. 11:7]
140 (A)Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men;
preserve me from (B)violent men,
2 who plan evil things in their heart
and (C)stir up wars continually.
3 They make (D)their tongue sharp as (E)a serpent's,
and (F)under their lips is the (G)venom of asps. Selah
4 Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
preserve me from (H)violent men,
who have planned to trip up my feet.
5 The arrogant have (I)hidden a trap for me,
and with cords they have spread (J)a net;[a]
beside the way they have set (K)snares for me. Selah
6 (L)I say to the Lord, You are my God;
give ear to (M)the voice of my pleas for mercy, O Lord!
7 O Lord, my Lord, (N)the strength of my salvation,
you have covered my head in the day of battle.
8 (O)Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;
do not further their[b] evil plot, or (P)they will be exalted! Selah
9 As for the head of those who surround me,
let (Q)the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
10 Let (R)burning coals fall upon them!
Let them be cast into fire,
into miry pits, no more to rise!
11 Let not the slanderer be established in the land;
let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!
12 I know that the Lord will (S)maintain the cause of the afflicted,
and (T)will execute justice for the needy.
13 Surely (U)the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
(V)the upright shall dwell in your presence.
Footnotes
- Psalm 140:5 Or they have spread cords as a net
- Psalm 140:8 Hebrew his
Cross references
- Psalm 140:1 : Ps. 71:4; 119:153, 170
- Psalm 140:1 : Ps. 18:48; Prov. 3:31
- Psalm 140:2 : See Ps. 56:6
- Psalm 140:3 : [Ps. 52:2]
- Psalm 140:3 : Ps. 58:4
- Psalm 140:3 : Ps. 10:7
- Psalm 140:3 : Cited Rom. 3:13
- Psalm 140:4 : [See ver. 1 above]; Ps. 18:48; Prov. 3:31
- Psalm 140:5 : Ps. 35:7; 141:9; 142:3; Jer. 18:22
- Psalm 140:5 : Job 18:8-10
- Psalm 140:5 : Ps. 64:5
- Psalm 140:6 : Ps. 142:5
- Psalm 140:6 : Ps. 28:2; 31:22; 130:2
- Psalm 140:7 : Ps. 28:8
- Psalm 140:8 : [Ps. 35:25]
- Psalm 140:8 : Isa. 14:21
- Psalm 140:9 : [Prov. 12:13; 18:7]; See Ps. 7:16
- Psalm 140:10 : [Ps. 11:6; 18:13]
- Psalm 140:12 : Ps. 9:4
- Psalm 140:12 : 1 Kgs. 8:45, 49, 59
- Psalm 140:13 : [Ps. 64:10]
- Psalm 140:13 : [Ps. 11:7]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
The Psalmist expresses to God the details of how the wicked are devising evil plans against him. In this world, there are people who devise and carry out violent plans to destroy others for their own gain (1-2), then cover it up with lies (3). We are shocked when we see this presence of such evil in the world, but it is real.
When we see that evil plans have been laid out against us, we can pray earnestly and see God as our deliverer and shield (7). We can also pray on behalf of others who are suffering due to evil attacks. It is right to pray that the plans of the wicked may not succeed (8). God’s justice returns the plans of evildoers back on their own heads (9-11). The Psalm ends with an expression of faith that God is a God of justice who fights for the cause of the needy (12-13).
Prayer: Father, thank you that you are against wicked and evil plans. Help me to be spiritually awake and be a prayer warrior so that your justice may prevail. May your kingdom come.
One Word: Lord, don’t let evil plans succeed.
