Psalms 140-142

Psalm 140

¹To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Free me, O Jehovah, from the evil man; preserve me from the violent man:

²Who devise mischiefs in their heart; every day are they banded together for war.

³They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.

⁴Keep me, O Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked man, preserve me from the violent man, who devise to overthrow my steps.

⁵The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the way-side; they have set traps for me. Selah.

⁶I have said unto Jehovah, Thou art my God: give ear, O Jehovah, to the voice of my supplications.

⁷Jehovah, the Lord, is the strength of my salvation: thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

⁸Grant not, O Jehovah, the desire of the wicked; further not his device: they would exalt themselves. Selah.

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

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

¹¹Let not the man of evil tongue be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the man of violence to his ruin.

¹²I know that Jehovah will maintain the cause of the afflicted one, the right of the needy.

¹³Yea, the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name; the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

Psalm 141

¹A Psalm of David. Jehovah, I have called upon thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I call unto thee.

²Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening oblation.

³Set a watch, O Jehovah, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

⁴Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise deeds of wickedness with men that are workers of iniquity; and let me not eat of their dainties.

⁵Let the righteous smite me, it is kindness; and let him reprove me, it is an excellent oil which my head shall not refuse: for yet my prayer also is for them in their calamities.

⁶When their judges are thrown down from the rocks, they shall hear my words, for they are sweet.

⁷Our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.

⁸For unto thee, Jehovah, Lord, are mine eyes; in thee do I trust: leave not my soul destitute.

⁹Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, and from the traps of the workers of iniquity.

¹⁰Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that *I* withal pass over.

Psalm 142

¹An instruction of David; when he was in the cave: a prayer. I cry unto Jehovah with my voice: with my voice unto Jehovah do I make supplication.

²I pour out my plaint before him; I shew before him my trouble.

³When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then *thou* knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they hidden a snare for me.

⁴Look on the right hand and see; there is no man that knoweth me: refuge hath failed me; no man careth for my soul.

⁵I cried unto thee, Jehovah; I said, Thou art my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.

⁶Attend unto my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I.

⁷Bring my soul out of prison, that I may celebrate thy name. The righteous shall surround me, because thou dealest bountifully with me.