Psalms 140 – NIV & KJV

New International Version

Psalms 140:1-13

Psalm 140In Hebrew texts 140:1-13 is numbered 140:2-14.

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1Rescue me, Lord, from evildoers;

protect me from the violent,

2who devise evil plans in their hearts

and stir up war every day.

3They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s;

the poison of vipers is on their lips.140:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 8.

4Keep me safe, Lord, from the hands of the wicked;

protect me from the violent,

who devise ways to trip my feet.

5The arrogant have hidden a snare for me;

they have spread out the cords of their net

and have set traps for me along my path.

6I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”

Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.

7Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer,

you shield my head in the day of battle.

8Do not grant the wicked their desires, Lord;

do not let their plans succeed.

9Those who surround me proudly rear their heads;

may the mischief of their lips engulf them.

10May burning coals fall on them;

may they be thrown into the fire,

into miry pits, never to rise.

11May slanderers not be established in the land;

may disaster hunt down the violent.

12I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor

and upholds the cause of the needy.

13Surely the righteous will praise your name,

and the upright will live in your presence.

King James Version

Psalms 140:1-13

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

1Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;140.1 violent…: Heb. man of violences

2Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.

3They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.

4Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.

5The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.

6I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.

7O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

8Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.140.8 lest…: or, let them not be exalted

9As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

10Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

11Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.140.11 an…: or, an evil speaker (Heb. a man of tongue), a wicked man of violence, be established in the earth: let him be hunted to his overthrow

12I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.

13Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.