Psalms 140:1-13
Psalms 140:1-13 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually. They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s, and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet. The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net; beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah I say to the LORD, You are my God; give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O LORD! O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them! Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise! Let not the slanderer be established in the land; let evil hunt down the violent man speedily! I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence.
Psalms 140:1-13 The Message (MSG)
GOD, get me out of here, away from this evil; protect me from these vicious people. All they do is think up new ways to be bad; they spend their days plotting war games. They practice the sharp rhetoric of hate and hurt, speak venomous words that maim and kill. GOD, keep me out of the clutch of these wicked ones, protect me from these vicious people; All boast and swagger, they plot ways to trip me up, determined to bring me down. These crooks invent traps to catch me and do their best to incriminate me. I prayed, “GOD, you’re my God! Listen, GOD! Mercy! GOD, my Lord, Strong Savior, protect me when the fighting breaks out! Don’t let the wicked have their way, GOD, don’t give them an inch!” These troublemakers all around me— let them drown in their own verbal poison. Let God pile hellfire on them, let him bury them alive in crevasses! These loudmouths— don’t let them be taken seriously; These savages— let the Devil hunt them down! I know that you, GOD, are on the side of victims, that you care for the rights of the poor. And I know that the righteous personally thank you, that good people are secure in your presence.
Psalms 140:1-13 King James Version (KJV)
Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: Preserve me from the violent man; Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; Continually are they gathered together for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; Adders' poison is under their lips. Selah. Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; Preserve me from the violent man; Who have purposed to overthrow my goings. The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; They have spread a net by the wayside; They have set gins for me. Selah. I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: Hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD. O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: Further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah. As for the head of those that compass me about, Let the mischief of their own lips cover them. Let burning coals fall upon them: Let them be cast into the fire; Into deep pits, that they rise not up again. Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him. I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, And the right of the poor. Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: The upright shall dwell in thy presence.
Psalms 140:1-13 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men; Preserve me from violent men Who devise evil things in their hearts; They continually stir up wars. They sharpen their tongues as a serpent; Poison of a viper is under their lips. Selah. Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; Preserve me from violent men Who have purposed to trip up my feet. The proud have hidden a trap for me, and cords; They have spread a net by the wayside; They have set snares for me. Selah. I said to the LORD, “You are my God; Give ear, O LORD, to the voice of my supplications. O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle. Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; Do not promote his evil device, that they not be exalted. Selah. “As for the head of those who surround me, May the mischief of their lips cover them. May burning coals fall upon them; May they be cast into the fire, Into deep pits from which they cannot rise. May a slanderer not be established in the earth; May evil hunt the violent man speedily.” I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted And justice for the poor. Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name; The upright will dwell in Your presence.
Psalms 140:1-13 New Century Version (NCV)
LORD, rescue me from evil people; protect me from cruel people who make evil plans, who always start fights. They make their tongues sharp as a snake’s; their words are like snake poison.Selah LORD, guard me from the power of wicked people; protect me from cruel people who plan to trip me up. The proud hid a trap for me. They spread out a net beside the road; they set traps for me.Selah I said to the LORD, “You are my God.” LORD, listen to my prayer for help. LORD God, my mighty savior, you protect me in battle. LORD, do not give the wicked what they want. Don’t let their plans succeed, or they will become proud.Selah Those around me have planned trouble. Now let it come to them. Let burning coals fall on them. Throw them into the fire or into pits from which they cannot escape. Don’t let liars settle in the land. Let evil quickly hunt down cruel people. I know the LORD will get justice for the poor and will defend the needy in court. Good people will praise his name; honest people will live in his presence.
Psalms 140:1-13 American Standard Version (ASV)
Deliver me, O Jehovah, from the evil man; Preserve me from the violent man: Who devise mischiefs in their heart; Continually do they gather themselves together for war. They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; Adders’ poison is under their lips. [Selah Keep me, O Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked; Preserve me from the violent man: Who have purposed to thrust aside my steps. The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; They have spread a net by the wayside; They have set gins for me. [Selah I said unto Jehovah, Thou art my God: Give ear unto the voice of my supplications, O Jehovah. O Jehovah the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. Grant not, O Jehovah, the desires of the wicked; Further not his evil device, lest they exalt themselves. [Selah As for the head of those that compass me about, Let the mischief of their own lips cover them. Let burning coals fall upon them: Let them be cast into the fire, Into deep pits, whence they shall not rise. An evil speaker shall not be established in the earth: Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him. I know that Jehovah will maintain the cause of the afflicted, And justice for the needy. Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: The upright shall dwell in thy presence.
Psalms 140:1-13 New International Version (NIV)
Rescue me, LORD, from evildoers; protect me from the violent, who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day. They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s; the poison of vipers is on their lips. Keep me safe, LORD, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent, who devise ways to trip my feet. The 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. I say to the LORD, “You are my God.” Hear, LORD, my cry for mercy. Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle. Do not grant the wicked their desires, LORD; do not let their plans succeed. Those who surround me proudly rear their heads; may the mischief of their lips engulf them. May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, never to rise. May slanderers not be established in the land; may disaster hunt down the violent. I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence.
Psalms 140:1-13 New King James Version (NKJV)
Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; Preserve me from violent men, Who plan evil things in their hearts; They continually gather together for war. They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; The poison of asps is under their lips. Selah Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; Preserve me from violent men, Who have purposed to make my steps stumble. The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; They have spread a net by the wayside; They have set traps for me. Selah I said to the LORD: “You are my God; Hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD. O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle. Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; Do not further his wicked scheme, Lest they be exalted. Selah “As for the head of those who surround me, Let the evil of their lips cover them; Let burning coals fall upon them; Let them be cast into the fire, Into deep pits, that they rise not up again. Let not a slanderer be established in the earth; Let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him.” I know that the LORD will maintain The cause of the afflicted, And justice for the poor. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; The upright shall dwell in Your presence.
Psalms 140:1-13 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men; Protect me from violent men. They devise evil things in their hearts; They continually [gather together and] stir up wars. They sharpen their tongues like a serpent’s; Poison of a viper is under their lips. [Rom 3:13] Selah. ¶Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; Protect me from violent men Who intend to trip up my steps. The proud have hidden a trap for me, and cords; They have spread a net by the wayside; They have set traps for me. Selah. ¶I said to the LORD, “You are my God; Listen to the voice of my supplications, O LORD. “O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle. “Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; Do not further their evil device, that they not be exalted. Selah. ¶“Those who surround me raise their heads; May the mischief of their own lips come upon them. “Let burning coals fall upon them; Let them be thrown into the fire, Into deep [water] pits from which they cannot rise. “Do not let a slanderer be established in the earth; Let evil quickly hunt the violent man [to overthrow him and stop his evil acts].” ¶I know [with confidence] that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, And [will secure] justice for the poor. Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name; The upright will dwell in Your presence.
Psalms 140:1-13 New Living Translation (NLT)
O LORD, rescue me from evil people. Protect me from those who are violent, those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long. Their tongues sting like a snake; the venom of a viper drips from their lips. Interlude O LORD, keep me out of the hands of the wicked. Protect me from those who are violent, for they are plotting against me. The proud have set a trap to catch me; they have stretched out a net; they have placed traps all along the way. Interlude I said to the LORD, “You are my God!” Listen, O LORD, to my cries for mercy! O Sovereign LORD, the strong one who rescued me, you protected me on the day of battle. LORD, do not let evil people have their way. Do not let their evil schemes succeed, or they will become proud. Interlude Let my enemies be destroyed by the very evil they have planned for me. Let burning coals fall down on their heads. Let them be thrown into the fire or into watery pits from which they can’t escape. Don’t let liars prosper here in our land. Cause great disasters to fall on the violent. But I know the LORD will help those they persecute; he will give justice to the poor. Surely righteous people are praising your name; the godly will live in your presence.
Psalms 140:1-13 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Lord, protect me from this evil one! Rescue me from these violent schemes! He concocts his secret strategy to divide and harm others, stirring up trouble one against another. They are known for their sharp rhetoric of poisonous, hateful words. Pause in his presence Keep me safe, Lord, out of reach from these wicked and violent men, and guard me, God, for they have plotted an evil scheme to ruin me and bring me down. They are proud and insolent; they’ve set an ambush for me in secret. They are determined to snare me in their net like captured prey. Pause in his presence O Lord, you are my God and my saving strength! My Hero-God, you wrap yourself around me to protect me. For I’m surrounded by your presence in my day of battle. Lord YAHWEH, hear my cry. May my voice move your heart to show me mercy. Don’t let the wicked triumph over me, but bring down their every strategy to subdue me or they will become even more arrogant! Pause in his presence Those who surround me are nothing but proud troublemakers. May they drink the poison of their own poisonous words. May their slanderous lives never prosper! Let evil itself hunt them down and pursue them relentlessly until they are thrown into fiery pits from which they will never get out! Let burning coals of hellfire fall upon their heads! For I know, Lord, that you will be the hero of all those they persecute, and you will secure justice for the poor. Your godly ones will thank you no matter what happens. For they choose and cherish your presence above everything else!