1 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Deliver me, Yahweh, from evil men. Preserve me from violent men: 2 those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war. 3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips. Selah. 4 Yahweh, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet. 5 The proud have hidden a snare for me, they have spread the cords of a net by the path. They have set traps for me. Selah. 6 I said to Yahweh, “You are my God.” Listen to the cry of my petitions, Yahweh. 7 Yahweh, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. 8 Yahweh, don’t grant the desires of the wicked. Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud. Selah. 9 As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them. 10 Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise. 11 An evil speaker won’t be established on the earth. Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him. 12 I know that Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the needy. 13 Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name. The upright will dwell in your presence.
Psalms · World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
Psalm 140 World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (2)
- Greek and Latin Bibles number most Psalms one lower than Hebrew and English Bibles.
- "World English Bible" is a trademark of eBible.org; the text is shown unaltered.
Cross references (13)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Psalm 18:48; Psalm 140:4; Psalm 71:4; Habakkuk 1:2–3; Psalm 17:13
- 2 Psalm 56:6; Psalm 36:4; Psalm 64:5–6; Proverbs 12:20; Psalm 120:7
- 3 Psalm 58:4; Romans 3:13–14; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Proverbs 23:32; Jeremiah 9:5
- 4 Psalm 36:11; Psalm 17:5; Psalm 71:4; Psalm 37:32–40; Psalm 17:8–9
- 5 Psalm 142:3; Psalm 35:7; Jeremiah 18:22; Jeremiah 18:20; Luke 20:20–23
- 6 Psalm 16:2; Psalm 31:14; Psalm 119:57; Psalm 142:5; Zechariah 13:9
- 7 Psalm 62:7; Psalm 18:1–2; Psalm 89:26; Psalm 62:2; Deuteronomy 33:27–29
- 8 Psalm 10:2–3; Psalm 27:12; Job 5:12–13; 2 Samuel 15:31; Deuteronomy 32:27
- 9 Psalm 7:16; Proverbs 18:7; Psalm 94:23; Proverbs 12:13; Proverbs 10:11
- 10 Psalm 11:6; Psalm 21:9; Revelation 20:15; Revelation 21:8; Exodus 9:23–24
- 11 Psalm 34:21; Proverbs 18:21; Isaiah 3:11; Proverbs 13:21; Proverbs 17:20
- 12 Psalm 9:4; 1 Kings 8:49; 1 Kings 8:45; Proverbs 23:10–11; Jeremiah 22:16
- 13 Psalm 16:11; Psalm 11:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Isaiah 3:10; John 17:24
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Our Lord Jesus Christ speaketh in the Prophets, sometimes in His own Name, sometimes in ours, because He maketh Himself one with us; as it is said, "they twain shall be one flesh." Wherefore also the Lord saith in the Gospel, speaking of marriage, "therefore they are no more twain, but one flesh." One flesh, because of our mortality He …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)
"For adder's poison," it is said, "is under their lips, and their throat is an open sepulchre." But theirs are not so, but full of much fragrance.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)