Psalms 140:4-13

4 Keep me, O Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked [man], preserve me from the violent man, who devise to overthrow my steps.

5 The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the way-side; they have set traps for me. Selah.

6 I have said unto Jehovah, Thou art my God: give ear, O Jehovah, to the voice of my supplications.

7 Jehovah, the Lord, is the strength of my salvation: thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

8 Grant not, O Jehovah, the desire of the wicked; further not his device: they would exalt themselves. Selah.

9 [As for] the head of those that encompass me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

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

11 Let not the man of [evil] tongue be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the man of violence to [his] ruin.

12 I know that Jehovah will maintain the cause of the afflicted one, the right of the needy.

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

Psalms 140:4-13 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or 'of arming for the battle.'
• [b]. Erets, 'land:' see 1Sam. 2.8.