Psalms 140; Psalms 141; Psalms 142

1 Lord, save me from sinful men. Keep me safe from those who want to hurt me.

2 They make evil plans in their hearts. They are always starting fights.

3 Their tongues are as deadly as the tongue of a serpent. The words from their lips are like the poison of a snake. "Selah"

4 Lord, keep me out of the hands of sinful people. Keep me safe from men who want to hurt me. They plan to trip me up and make me fall.

5 Proud people have hidden their traps to catch me. They have spread out their nets. They have set traps for me along my path. "Selah"

6 Lord, I say to you, "You are my God." Lord, hear my cry for your favor.

7 LORD and King, you save me because you are strong. You are like a shield that keeps me safe in the day of battle.

8 Lord, don't give sinners what they want. Don't let their plans succeed. If you do, they will become proud. "Selah"

9 Those who are all around me have caused me trouble by what their lips have said. Let that trouble fall on their own heads.

10 Let burning coals fall on people like that. May they be thrown into the fire. May they be thrown into muddy pits and never get out.

11 Don't let men who tell lies about me settle down in the land. May trouble hunt down those who want to hurt me.

12 I know that the LORD makes sure that poor people are treated fairly. He stands up for those who are in need.

13 I'm sure that those who do right will praise your name. Those who are honest will live with you.

1 Lord, I call out to you. Come quickly to help me. Listen to me when I call out to you.

2 May my prayer come to you like the sweet smell of incense. When I lift up my hands in prayer, may it be like the evening sacrifice.

3 Lord, guard my mouth. Keep watch over the door of my lips.

4 Don't let my heart be drawn to what is evil. Don't let me join men who do evil. They don't do what is right. Don't let me join them and eat their fancy food.

5 If a person who does what is right were to strike me, it would be an act of kindness. If that person were to correct me, it would be like pouring olive oil on my head. I wouldn't say no to it. But I always pray against the things that sinful people do.

6 When their rulers are thrown down from the rocky cliffs, those evil people will realize that my words were true.

7 They will say, "As clumps of dirt are left from plowing up the ground, so our bones will be scattered near an open grave."

8 But LORD and King, I keep looking to you. I go to you for safety. Don't let me die.

9 Keep me from the traps of those who do evil. Save me from the traps they have set for me.

10 Let evil people fall into their own nets. But let me go safely on my way.

1 I call out to the Lord. I pray to him for his favor.

2 I pour out my problem to him. I tell him about my trouble.

3 When I grow weak, you know what I'm going through. In the path where I walk, people have hidden a trap to catch me.

4 Look around me, and you will see that no one is concerned about me. I have no place of safety. No one cares whether I live or die.

5 Lord, I cry out to you. I say, "You are my place of safety. You are everything I need in this life."

6 Listen to my cry. I am in great need. Save me from those who are chasing me. They are too strong for me.

7 My troubles are like a prison. Set me free so I can praise your name. Then those who do what is right will gather around me because you have been good to me.