Psalms 140:1-11

1 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; preserve me from violent men,

2 who plan evil things in their heart, and stir up wars continually.

3 They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's, and under their lips is the poison of vipers. [Selah]

4 Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet.

5 Arrogant men have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net, by the wayside they have set snares for me. [Selah]

6 I say to the LORD, Thou art my God; give ear to the voice of my supplications, O LORD!

7 O LORD, my Lord, my strong deliverer, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further his evil plot! [Selah]

9 Those who surround me lift up their head, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!

10 Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into pits, no more to rise!

11 Let not the slanderer be established in the land; let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

Psalms 140:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. This psalm, A ben Ezra says, was composed by David before he was king; and Kimchi says, it is concerning Doeg and the Ziphites, who calumniated him to Saul; and, according to our English contents, it is a prayer of David to be delivered from Saul and Doeg. The Syriac inscription is, "said by David, when Saul threw a javelin at him to kill him, but it struck the wall; but, spiritually, the words of him that cleaves to God, and contends with his enemies." R. Obadiah says, it was made at the persecution of David by Saul, which was before the kingdom of David; as the persecution (of Gog) is before the coming of the Messiah. It is indeed before his spiritual coming, but not before his coming in the flesh; and David may be very well considered in the psalm as a type of Christ, for he was particularly so in his sufferings, as well as in other things.