Psalms 140:1-10

1 (139-1) <Unto the end, a psalm of David.> (139-2) Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: rescue me from the unjust man.

2 (139-3) Who have devised iniquities in their hearts: all the day long they designed battles.

3 (139-4) They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: the venom of asps is under their lips.

4 (139-5) Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the wicked: and from unjust men deliver me. Who have proposed to supplant my steps:

5 (139-6) The proud have hidden a net for me. And they have stretched out cords for a snare: they have laid for me a stumblingblock by the wayside.

6 (139-7) I said to the Lord: Thou art my God: hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication.

7 (139-8) O Lord, Lord, the strength of my salvation: thou hast overshadowed my head in the day of battle.

8 (139-9) Give me not up, O Lord, from my desire to the wicked: they have plotted against me; do not thou forsake me, lest they should triumph.

9 (139-10) The head of them compassing me about: the labour of their lips shall overwhelm them.

10 (139-11) Burning coals shall fall upon them; thou wilt cast them down into the fire: in miseries they shall not be able to stand.

Psalms 140:1-10 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.