Psalm 140
Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men
: and preserve me from violent men.
Who devise mischief in their hearts
: who stir up enmity day by day.
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent’s
: and the venom of asps is under their lips.
Keep me, O Lord, from the power of the wicked
: preserve me from violent men,
who think to thrust me from my course.
The arrogant have laid a snare for me,
and rogues have stretched the net
: they have set traps along my way.
But I have said to the Lord ‘You are my God’
: hear, O Lord, the voice of my pleading.
O Lord my God and my sure stronghold
: you have covered my head in the day of battle.
Do not fulfil, O Lord, the desire of the wicked
: nor further the evil that he has devised.
[Let not those that beset me lift their heads
: but let the mischief that is on their lips bury them.
Let hot burning coals be poured upon them
: let them be plunged into that miry pit
from which they shall never arise.
Let no man of evil tongue find footing in the land
: the evil, the violent man
let him be hunted to the end.]
I know that the Lord will work justice for the oppressed :
and right judgements for the poor.
Surely the righteous shall have cause to praise your name :
and the just shall dwell in your sight.