Psalms 140:1-9

1 Deliver me, O Lord, from evildoers; protect me from those who are violent,

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

3 They make their tongue sharp as a snake's, and under their lips is the venom of vipers. (Selah)

4 Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent who have planned my downfall.

5 The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net, along the road they have set snares for me. (Selah)

6 I say to the Lord, "You are my God; give ear, O Lord, to the voice of my supplications."

7 O Lord, my Lord, my strong deliverer, you have covered my head in the day of battle.

8 Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot. (Selah)

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

Psalms 140:1-9 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or [they have spread cords as a net]
• [b]. Heb adds [they are exalted]
• [c]. Cn Compare Gk: Heb [those who surround me are uplifted in head]; Heb divides verses 8 and 9 differently