Psalms 140:3-13

3 They have sharpened their tongue 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 man of violence, who have purposed to overthrow my steps.

5 The proud have hid a snare for me and cords; they have spread a net; on the path they have set snares 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 saving health, cover thou my head in the day of battle.

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

9 As for the head of those that compass me about, let the perversion 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 not rise up again.

11 The man with an evil tongue shall not be established in the earth; evil shall hunt the man of violence to overthrow him.

12 I know that the LORD will effect the judgment of the poor and the judgment of the destitute.

13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name; the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

Psalms 140:3-13 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.