Psalms 140; Psalms 141; Psalms 142

1 Rescue me, Lord, from evil men. Keep me safe from violent men

2 who plan evil in their hearts. They stir up wars all day long.

3 They make their tongues as sharp as a snake's bite; viper's venom is under their lips. Selah

4 Protect me, Lord, from the clutches of the wicked. Keep me safe from violent men who plan to make me stumble.

5 The proud hide a trap with ropes for me; they spread a net along the path and set snares for me. Selah

6 I say to the Lord, "You are my God." Listen, Lord, to my cry for help.

7 Lord God , my strong Savior, You shield my head on the day of battle.

8 Lord, do not grant the desires of the wicked; do not let them achieve their goals. [Otherwise,] they will become proud. Selah

9 As for the heads of those who surround me, let the trouble their lips cause overwhelm [them].

10 Let hot coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into the abyss, never again to rise.

11 Do not let a slanderer stay in the land. Let evil relentlessly hunt down a violent man.

12 I know that the Lord upholds the just cause of the poor, justice for the needy.

13 Surely the righteous will praise Your name; the upright will live in Your presence.

1 Lord, I call on You; hurry to [help] me. Listen to my voice when I call on You.

2 May my prayer be set before You as incense, the raising of my hands as the evening offering.

3 Lord, set up a guard for my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.

4 Do not let my heart turn to any evil thing or wickedly perform reckless acts with men who commit sin. Do not let me feast on their delicacies.

5 Let the righteous one strike me- it is [an act of] faithful love; let him rebuke me- it is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. Even now my prayer is against the evil acts of the wicked.

6 When their rulers will be thrown off the sides of a cliff, the people will listen to my words, for they are pleasing.

7 As when one plows and breaks up the soil, [turning up rocks], so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

8 But my eyes [look] to You, Lord God . I seek refuge in You; do not let me die.

9 Protect me from the trap they have set for me, and from the snares of evildoers.

10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass [safely] by.

1 I cry aloud to the Lord; I plead aloud to the Lord for mercy.

2 I pour out my complaint before Him; I reveal my trouble to Him.

3 Although my spirit is weak within me, You know my way. Along this path I travel they have hidden a trap for me.

4 Look to the right and see: no one stands up for me; there is no refuge for me; no one cares about me.

5 I cry to You, Lord; I say, "You are my shelter, my portion in the land of the living."

6 Listen to my cry, for I am very weak. Rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me.

7 Free me from prison so that I can praise Your name. The righteous will gather around me because You deal generously with me.