Deliver me, O Jehovah, from the evil man; Preserve me from the violent man:
Who devise mischiefs in their heart; Continually do they gather themselves together for war.
They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; Adders poison is under their lips. Selah
Keep me, O Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked; Preserve me from the violent man: Who have purposed to thrust aside my steps.
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
I said unto Jehovah, Thou art my God: Give ear unto the voice of my supplications, O Jehovah.
O Jehovah the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
Grant not, O Jehovah, the desires of the wicked; Further not his evil device, lest they exalt themselves. Selah
As for the head of those that compass me about, Let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
Let burning coals fall upon them: Let them be cast into the fire, Into deep pits, whence they shall not rise.
An evil speaker shall not be established in the earth: Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
I know that Jehovah will maintain the cause of the afflicted, And justice for the needy.
Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: The upright shall dwell in thy presence.
Canonical academic citations for Psalms 140 (ASV) — copy in your preferred format.
Psalms 140 (ASV). Prime Bible, accessed July 25, 2026. https://primebible.com/asv/psalms/140.
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Deliver from violent men; snake-tongues; LORD maintains cause of needy.
Communal hymns, liturgical psalms, and post-exilic additions.
Psalms 140 is presented with the full Hebrew interlinear, Strong's numbers, and verse-by-verse cross-references on Prime Bible — a free, nonprofit Bible study platform.