Psalms140
New International Version
1 Rescue me, Lord, from evildoers; protect me from the violent,
2 who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day.
3 They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s; the poison of vipers is on their lips.
4 Keep me safe, Lord, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent, who devise ways to trip my feet.
5 The arrogant have hidden a snare for me; they have spread out the cords of their net and have set traps for me along my path.
6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God.” Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.
7 Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle.
8 Do not grant the wicked their desires, Lord; do not let their plans succeed.
9 Those who surround me proudly rear their heads; may the mischief of their lips engulf them.
10 May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, never to rise.
11 May slanderers not be established in the land; may disaster hunt down the violent.
12 I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.
13 Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live 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