Psalms140
New American Standard
1 Rescue me, Lord, from evil people; Protect me from violent men
2 Who devise evil things in their hearts; They continually stir up wars.
3 They sharpen their tongues like a snake; The venom of a viper is under their lips. Selah
4 Keep me, Lord, from the hands of the wicked; Protect me from violent men Who intend to trip up my feet.
5 The proud have hidden a trap for me, and snares; They have spread a net at the wayside; They have set snares for me. Selah
6 I said to the Lord, “You are my God; Listen, Lord, to the sound of my pleadings.
7 God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head on the day of battle.
8 Do not grant, Lord, the desires of the wicked; Do not bring about his evil planning, so that they are not exalted. Selah
9 “As for the head of those who surround me, May the harm of their lips cover them.
10 May burning coals fall upon them; May they be cast into the fire, Into bottomless pits from which they cannot rise.
11 May a slanderer not endure on the earth; May evil hunt a violent person violently.”
12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, And justice for the poor.
13 Certainly the righteous will give thanks to Your name; The upright will dwell in Your presence.
Study
Psalms 140Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 140. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David encourages himself in God. (1–7). He prays for, and prophesies the destruction of, his persecutors. (8–13).
vv1-7
The more danger appears, the more earnest we should be in prayer to God. All are safe whom the Lord protects. If he be for us, who can be against us? We should especially watch and pray, that the Lord would hold up our goings in his ways, that our footsteps slip not. God is as able to keep his people from secret fraud as from open force; and the experience we have had of his power and care, in dangers of one kind, may encourage us to depend upon him in other dangers.
vv8-13
Believers may pray that God would not grant the desires of the wicked, nor further their evil devices. False accusers will bring mischief upon themselves, even the burning coals of Divine vengeance. And surely the righteous shall dwell in God's presence, and give him thanks for evermore. This is true thanksgiving, even thanks-living: this use we should make of all our deliverances, we should serve God the more closely and cheerfully. Those who, though evil spoken of and ill-used by men, are righteous in the sight of God, being justified by the righteousness of Christ, which is imputed to them, and received by faith, as the effect of which, they live soberly and righteously; these give thanks to the Lord, for the righteousness whereby they are made righteous, and for every blessing of grace, and mercy of life.
Key Words
נָצַח: properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanent
מִזְמוֹר: properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
חָלַץ: to pull off; hence (intensively) to strip, (reflex.) to depart; by implication, to deliver, equip (for fight); present, strengthen
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
רַע: bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
אָדָם: ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
נָצַר: to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.)
חָמָס: violence; by implication, wrong; by meton. unjust gain
אִישׁ: a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
Cross References
Psalms 140Paul explicitly quotes the second clause of verse 3 ("poison of asps is under their lips") in Romans 3:13.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Contrast between David's head covered by God and the wicked covered by the mischief of their own lips.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the judgment of burning coals and divine vengeance upon false, evil-speaking tongues.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the metaphor of burning coals and fire falling from heaven as divine judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Asserts confidence that God will maintain the cause and right of the oppressed.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Compares the deceptive, toxic nature of wicked enemies to the venomous poison of a serpent.
Supported by JFB
Identical imagery of enemies laying snares, nets, and traps to overthrow the psalmist.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Metaphor of the proud spreading a net and preparing a pit for the psalmist's steps.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
The solemn covenant declaration: "I said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord/God."
Supported by JFB
The mouth of the wicked is filled with cursing, deceit, and mischief under their tongue.
Supported by JFB
The wicked fall into their own nets while the righteous escape safely.
Supported by John Calvin
Associates divine judgment with burning coals of fire and powerful meteorological manifestations of wrath.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The righteous made glad and secure forever in the immediate presence of God.
Supported by JFB
David praises God for delivering him from his enemies and specifically from the "violent man."
Supported by John Calvin