Deliver Me From Evil Men
Psalm 140 summary: what it means
Psalm 140 is a prayer for protection from violent men. The enemies plan mischief in their hearts and gather for war, and their tongues are sharpened like a serpent's, with viper's poison under their lips. They have hidden snares, nets and traps by the path. The text pauses three times with Selah. In between, the speaker tells the LORD, you are my God, and remembers that God covered his head in the day of battle.
The second half turns the enemies' weapons back on them. The mischief of their own lips is to cover them, and they are to fall into fire and miry pits. The psalm ends in certainty rather than request: the speaker knows the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the upright will dwell in his presence.
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Psalm 140: Deliver Me From Evil Men
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-140
Psalm 140 commentary: explained verse by verse
Deliver me, LORD, from evil men.Preserve me from violent men:
Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;
The psalm opens with two requests: deliver me from evil men, and preserve me from violent men. The next verses show what those men are like.
Also read Psalm 71:4, Psalm 17:13, Psalm 18:48, Psalm 43:1
those who devise mischief in their hearts.They continually gather themselves together for war.
Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
Also read 1 Samuel 24:11-12, Proverbs 12:20, 1 Samuel 23:19-24, Psalm 56:6
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent.Viper’s poison is under their lips. Selah.
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.
The enemies' tongues are sharpened like a serpent's, with viper's poison under their lips. Their weapon is speech, and the psalm treats it as deadly.
Also read Proverbs 23:32, James 3:6-8, Psalm 57:4, 2 Corinthians 11:3
LORD, keep me from the hands of the wicked.Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet.
Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
The speaker asks to be kept from the hands of the wicked, who have determined to trip his feet. The King James Version reads "who have purposed to overthrow my goings".
Also read Psalm 71:4, Psalm 55:1-3, Psalm 37:32-40, Psalm 17:5
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.
The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.
The proud have hidden a snare, spread a net by the path and set traps. The dangers are hidden, so the speaker cannot simply avoid them.
Also read Jeremiah 18:22, Psalm 31:4, Psalm 123:3-4, Psalm 142:3
I said to the LORD, “You are my God.”Listen to the cry of my petitions, LORD.
I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.
In the middle of the danger he makes a statement of loyalty: you are my God. Then he asks the LORD to listen to his cry.
Also read Psalm 55:1-2, Psalm 28:1-2, Psalm 27:7-8, Psalm 16:5-6
LORD, the Lord, the strength of my salvation,you have covered my head in the day of battle.
O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
God is called the strength of the speaker's salvation, who has covered his head in the day of battle. The verse looks back to protection already given.
Also read 1 Samuel 17:45-51, Psalm 89:26, 1 Samuel 17:36-37, Psalm 144:10
LORD, don’t grant the desires of the wicked.Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud. Selah.
Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
He asks God not to grant what the wicked desire or let their evil plans succeed. The reason he gives is that success would make them proud.
Also read Psalm 94:20-21, 2 Samuel 15:31, Job 5:12-13, Deuteronomy 32:27
As for the head of those who surround me,let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
The mischief the enemies speak is to fall back on their own heads. Those who set traps are to be caught by their own words.
Also read Psalm 7:16, Proverbs 18:7, Proverbs 10:6, Proverbs 10:11
Let burning coals fall on them.Let them be thrown into the fire,into miry pits, from where they never rise.
Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
Also read Matthew 13:42, Genesis 19:24, Proverbs 28:10, Matthew 13:50
An evil speaker won’t be established on the earth.Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
Also read Proverbs 6:17, Proverbs 18:21, Psalm 7:14-16, Psalm 12:3-4
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted,and justice for the needy.
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
Here the psalm moves from asking to knowing. The speaker knows the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted and justice for the needy.
Also read Psalm 72:4, Proverbs 23:10-11, Matthew 11:5, Psalm 72:12-14
Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name.The upright will dwell in your presence.
Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.
The last verse is about the righteous. They will give thanks to God's name, and the upright will dwell in his presence.
Also read John 17:24, Revelation 7:14-17, Psalm 16:11, Isaiah 3:10
A prayer from Psalm 140
LORD, deliver me from evil and violent people, from those who devise mischief in their hearts and sharpen their tongues like a serpent. Keep me from the hands of the wicked. They have hidden a snare for me and spread their nets by the path. I say to you, you are my God. Listen to my cry. You are the strength of my salvation, and you have covered my head in the day of battle. Do not let their evil plans succeed. I leave their judgement with you. I know that you will maintain the cause of the afflicted and justice for the needy. Amen.
Psalm 140 Bible study questions
- In verses 2 and 3, what do the evil men do with their hearts and their tongues?
- In verse 7, what does the writer call the LORD, and what does he say the LORD has done in the day of battle?
- The psalm names harm done by words as well as by violence. How have words affected you, for good or ill?
- Verse 12 says the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted. Who comes to mind for you when you read that line?
- Psalm 64:3 speaks of people who sharpen their tongue like a sword. How does it compare with Psalm 140:3?
Questions about Psalm 140
What is the meaning of Psalm 140?
It is a prayer to be protected from violent men with poisonous tongues and hidden traps, ending in confidence that God defends the afflicted.
Who wrote Psalm 140?
The heading attributes it to David and addresses it to the Chief Musician.
What does Psalm 140:4 mean?
It asks God to keep the speaker from the hands of the wicked and from violent men who have determined to trip his feet.
What does Psalm 140:12 say?
"I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the needy." The King James Version has "the right of the poor".
What does Psalm 140:7 mean?
It calls God the strength of the speaker's salvation and says God covered his head in the day of battle.
Psalm 140 KJV: the King James Version
Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;1
Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.2
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.3
Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.4
The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.5
I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.6
O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.7
Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.8
As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.9
Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.10
Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.11
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.12
Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.13
Psalm 140 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃
2 חַלְּצֵ֣נִי יְ֭הוָה מֵאָדָ֣ם רָ֑ע מֵאִ֖ישׁ חֲמָסִ֣ים תִּנְצְרֵֽנִי׃
3 אֲשֶׁ֤ר חָשְׁב֣וּ רָע֣וֹת בְּלֵ֑ב כָּל־י֝֗וֹם יָג֥וּרוּ מִלְחָמֽוֹת׃
4 שָֽׁנֲנ֣וּ לְשׁוֹנָם֮ כְּֽמוֹ־נָ֫חָ֥שׁ חֲמַ֥ת עַכְשׁ֑וּב תַּ֖חַת שְׂפָתֵ֣ימוֹ סֶֽלָה׃
5 שָׁמְרֵ֤נִי יְהוָ֨ה ׀ מִ֘ידֵ֤י רָשָׁ֗ע מֵאִ֣ישׁ חֲמָסִ֣ים תִּנְצְרֵ֑נִי אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָ֝שְׁב֗וּ לִדְח֥וֹת פְּעָמָֽי׃
6 טָֽמְנֽוּ־גֵאִ֨ים ׀ פַּ֡ח לִ֗י וַחֲבָלִ֗ים פָּ֣רְשׂוּ רֶ֭שֶׁת לְיַד־מַעְגָּ֑ל מֹקְשִׁ֖ים שָֽׁתוּ־לִ֣י סֶֽלָה׃
7 אָמַ֣רְתִּי לַ֭יהוָה אֵ֣לִי אָ֑תָּה הַאֲזִ֥ינָה יְ֝הוָ֗ה ק֣וֹל תַּחֲנוּנָֽי׃
8 יְהֹוִ֣ה אֲ֭דֹנָי עֹ֣ז יְשׁוּעָתִ֑י סַכֹּ֥תָה לְ֝רֹאשִׁ֗י בְּי֣וֹם נָֽשֶׁק׃
9 אַל־תִּתֵּ֣ן יְ֭הוָה מַאֲוַיֵּ֣י רָשָׁ֑ע זְמָמ֥וֹ אַל־תָּ֝פֵ֗ק יָר֥וּמוּ סֶֽלָה׃
10 רֹ֥אשׁ מְסִבָּ֑י עֲמַ֖ל שְׂפָתֵ֣ימוֹ יכסומו׃
11 ימיטו עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם גֶּֽחָ֫לִ֥ים בָּאֵ֥שׁ יַפִּלֵ֑ם בְּ֝מַהֲמֹר֗וֹת בַּֽל־יָקֽוּמוּ׃
12 אִ֥ישׁ לָשׁוֹן֮ בַּל־יִכּ֪וֹן בָּ֫אָ֥רֶץ אִישׁ־חָמָ֥ס רָ֑ע יְ֝צוּדֶ֗נּוּ לְמַדְחֵפֹֽת׃
13 ידעת כִּֽי־יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה יְ֭הוָה דִּ֣ין עָנִ֑י מִ֝שְׁפַּ֗ט אֶבְיֹנִֽים׃
14 אַ֣ךְ צַ֭דִּיקִים יוֹד֣וּ לִשְׁמֶ֑ךָ יֵשְׁב֥וּ יְ֝שָׁרִ֗ים אֶת־פָּנֶֽיךָ׃
Psalm 140 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 139 there.
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1 Unto the end, a psalm for David.
2 Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: rescue me from the unjust man.
3 Who have devised iniquities in their hearts: all the day long they designed battles.
4 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: the venom of saps is under their lips.
5 Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the wicked: and from unjust men deliver me. Who have proposed to supplant my steps.
6 The proud have hidden a net for me. And they have stretched out cords for a snare: they have laid for me a stumblingblock by the wayside.
7 I said to the Lord: Thou art my God: hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication.
8 O Lord, Lord, the strength of my salvation: thou hast overshadowed my head in the day of battle.
9 Give me not up, O Lord, from my desire to the wicked: they have plotted against me; do not thou forsake me, lest they should triumph.
10 The head of them compassing me about: the labour of their lips shall overwhelm them.
11 Burning coals shall fall upon them; thou wilt cast them down into the fire: in miseries they shall not be able to stand.
12 A man full of tongue shall not be established in the earth: evil shall catch the unjust man unto destruction.
13 I know that the Lord will do justice to the needy, and will revenge the poor.
14 But as for the just, they shall give glory to thy name: and the upright shall dwell with thy countenance.
Psalm 140 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 139.
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1 In finem. Psalmus David.
2 Eripe me, Domine, ab homine malo; a viro iniquo eripe me.
3 Qui cogitaverunt iniquitates in corde, tota die constituebant prælia.
4 Acuerunt linguas suas sicut serpentis; venenum aspidum sub labiis eorum.
5 Custodi me, Domine, de manu peccatoris, et ab hominibus iniquis eripe me. Qui cogitaverunt supplantare gressus meos:
6 absconderunt superbi laqueum mihi. Et funes extenderunt in laqueum; juxta iter, scandalum posuerunt mihi.
7 Dixi Domino: Deus meus es tu; exaudi, Domine, vocem deprecationis meæ.
8 Domine, Domine, virtus salutis meæ, obumbrasti super caput meum in die belli.
9 Ne tradas me, Domine, a desiderio meo peccatori: cogitaverunt contra me; ne derelinquas me, ne forte exaltentur.
10 Caput circuitus eorum: labor labiorum ipsorum operiet eos.
11 Cadent super eos carbones; in ignem dejicies eos: in miseriis non subsistent.
12 Vir linguosus non dirigetur in terra; virum injustum mala capient in interitu.
13 Cognovi quia faciet Dominus judicium inopis, et vindictam pauperum.
14 Verumtamen justi confitebuntur nomini tuo, et habitabunt recti cum vultu tuo.
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Psalm 140 at a glance
| Verses | 13 |
| Heading in the text | For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. |
| Attributed to | The heading attributes it to David and addresses it to the Chief Musician. |
| Type | Prayer and Trust |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 139 |
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Psalm 140 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 140 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 140 belongs
Psalms of DavidBook 5 of the Psalms
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source