Prayer for Protection against the Wicked.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
1 Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men;
Preserve me from violent men
2 Who devise evil things intheirhearts;
They continually stir up wars.
3 They sharpen their tongues as a serpent;
Poison of a viper is under their lips. Selah.
4 Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
Preserve me from violent men
# Who have purposed totrip up my feet.
5 The proud have hidden a trap for me, and cords;
They have spread a net by the wayside;
They have set snares for me. Selah.
6 I said to the Lord, “You are my God;
Give ear, O Lord, to the voice of my supplications.
7 “O Godthe Lord, the strength of my salvation,
You have covered my head in the day of battle.
8 “Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;
Do not promote hisevildevice,thattheynotbe exalted. Selah.
9 “As for the head of those who surround me,
May the mischief of their lips cover them.
10 “May burning coals fall upon them;
May they be cast into the fire,
Into deep pits from which they cannot rise.
11 “May a slanderer not be established in the earth;
# May evil hunt the violent manspeedily.”
12 I know that the Lordwill maintain the cause of the afflicted
And justice for the poor.
13 Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name;
The upright will dwell in Your presence.
—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/PSA/140-ca08982c14288a2fdd3394bc716954c8.mp3?version_id=100—