Psalms 140-142

Psalm 140

¹To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David. O Lord, take me out of the power of the evil man; keep me safe from the violent man:

²For their hearts are full of evil designs; and they are ever making ready causes of war.

³Their tongues are sharp like the tongue of a snake; the poison of snakes is under their lips. (Selah.)

⁴O Lord, take me out of the hands of sinners; keep me safe from the violent man: for they are designing my downfall.

⁵The men of pride have put secret cords for my feet; stretching nets in my way, so that they may take me with their tricks. (Selah.)

⁶I have said to the Lord, You are my God: give ear, O Lord, to the voice of my prayer.

⁷O Lord God, the strength of my salvation, you have been a cover over my head in the day of the fight.

⁸O Lord, give not the wrongdoer his desire; give him no help in his evil designs, or he may be uplifted in pride. (Selah.)

⁹As for those who come round me, let their heads be covered by the evil of their lips.

¹⁰Let burning flames come down on them: let them be put into the fire, and into deep waters, so that they may not get up again.

¹¹Let not a man of evil tongue be safe on earth: let destruction overtake the violent man with blow on blow.

¹²I am certain that the Lord will take care of the cause of the poor, and of the rights of those who are troubled.

¹³Truly, the upright will give praise to your name: the holy will have a place in your house.

Psalm 141

¹A Psalm. Of David. Lord, I have made my cry to you; come to me quickly; give ear to my voice, when it goes up to you.

²Let my prayer be ordered before you like a sweet smell; and let the lifting up of my hands be like the evening offering.

³O Lord, keep a watch over my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

⁴Keep my heart from desiring any evil thing, or from taking part in the sins of the evil-doers with men who do wrong: and let me have no part in their good things.

⁵Let the upright give me punishment; and let the god-fearing man put me in the right way; but I will not let the oil of sinners come on my head: when they do evil I will give myself to prayer.

⁶When destruction comes to their judges by the side of the rock, they will give ear to my words, for they are sweet.

⁷Our bones are broken up at the mouth of the underworld, as the earth is broken by the plough.

⁸But my eyes are turned to you, O Lord God: my hope is in you; let not my soul be given up to death.

⁹Keep me from the net which they have put down for me, and from the designs of the workers of evil.

¹⁰Let the sinners be taken in the nets which they themselves have put down, while I go free.

Psalm 142

¹Maschil. Of David. A prayer when he was in the hole of the rock. The sound of my cry went up to the Lord; with my voice I made my prayer for grace to the Lord.

²I put all my sorrows before him; and made clear to him all my trouble.

³When my spirit is overcome, your eyes are on my goings; nets have been secretly placed in the way in which I go.

⁴Looking to my right side, I saw no man who was my friend: I had no safe place; no one had any care for my soul.

⁵I have made my cry to you, O Lord; I have said, You are my safe place, and my heritage in the land of the living.

⁶Give ear to my cry, for I am made very low: take me out of the hands of my haters, for they are stronger than I.

⁷Take my soul out of prison, so that I may give praise to your name: the upright will give praise because of me; for you have given me a full reward.