Psalm 140 - New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Psalm 140[a]

Prayer for Deliverance from the Wicked

1 For the leader. A psalm of David.

I

2 Deliver me, Lord, from the wicked;
preserve me from the violent,(A)
3 From those who plan evil in their hearts,
who stir up conflicts every day,
4 [b]Who sharpen their tongue like a serpent,
venom of asps upon their lips.(B)
Selah

II

5 Keep me, Lord, from the clutches of the wicked;
preserve me from the violent,
who plot to trip me up.(C)
6 [c]The arrogant have set a trap for me;
they have spread out ropes for a net,
laid snares for me by the wayside.
Selah
7 I say to the Lord: You are my God;(D)
listen, Lord, to the words of my pleas.
8 Lord, my master, my strong deliverer,
you cover my head on the day of armed conflict.
9 Lord, do not grant the desires of the wicked one;
do not let his plot succeed.
Selah

III

10 Those who surround me raise their heads;
may the mischief they threaten overwhelm them.
11 Drop burning coals upon them;(E)
cast them into the watery pit never more to rise.

12 Slanderers will not survive on earth;
evil will hunt down the man of violence to overthrow him.
13 For I know the Lord will take up the cause of the needy,
justice for the poor.
14 Then the righteous will give thanks to your name;
the upright will dwell in your presence.(F)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 140 A lament seeking rescue from violent and treacherous foes (Ps 140:2–6). The psalmist remains trusting (Ps 140:7–8), vigorously praying that the plans of the wicked recoil upon themselves (Ps 140:9–12). A serene statement of praise ends the Psalm (Ps 140:13). The psalmist is content to be known as one of “the needy,” “the poor,” “the just,” “the upright” (Ps 140:13), a class of people expecting divine protection.
  2. 140:4 Similar metaphors for a wicked tongue are used in Ps 52:2; 55:20; 58:3.
  3. 140:6 Have set a trap…have spread out ropes for a net: the same figure, of hunters setting traps, occurs in Ps 9:16; 31:5; 35:7; 64:6, cf. Mt 22:15; Lk 11:54.

Cross references

  1. 140:2 : Ps 71:4.
  2. 140:4 : Ps 64:4; Rom 3:13.
  3. 140:5 : Jer 18:22; Ps 56:7; 57:7.
  4. 140:7 : Ps 31:15.
  5. 140:11 : Ps 11:6; 120:4; Gn 19:24.
  6. 140:14 : Ps 11:7; 16:11; 17:15.