Psalms 140:1-10

1 <> Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man; preserve me from the violent man,

2 who imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.

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

4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man, who has purposed to overthrow my goings.

5 The proud have hid a snare for me, and with cords they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set traps for me. Selah

6 I said unto the LORD, "Thou art my God; hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.

7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; further not his wicked device, lest they exalt themselves. Selah

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

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

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.