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Psalms 140

BSB·13 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Rescue meחַלְּצֵ֣נִיḥal·lə·ṣê·nî — to strip off; to arm; to deliverH2502 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְ֭הוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, from evilרָ֑עrā‘ — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study → menמֵאָדָ֣םmê·’ā·ḏām — Man, mankind, human beingH120 — Full Word Study →. Protect meתִּנְצְרֵֽנִי׃tin·ṣə·rê·nî — to guard, watch, keep, preserveH5341 — Full Word Study → from menמֵאִ֖ישׁmê·’îš — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → of violenceחֲמָסִ֣יםḥă·mā·sîm — Violence, cruelty, or wrongful harmH2555 — Full Word Study →, 2whoאֲשֶׁ֤ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → deviseחָשְׁב֣וּḥā·šə·ḇū — to think, devise, plan, or reckonH2803 — Full Word Study → evilרָע֣וֹתrā·‘ō·wṯ — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study → in their heartsבְּלֵ֑בbə·lêḇ — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study → and stir upיָג֥וּרוּyā·ḡū·rū — to sojourn, dwell as a stranger, fearH1481 — Full Word Study → warמִלְחָמֽוֹת׃mil·ḥā·mō·wṯ — Battle, warfare, combat, military conflictH4421 — Full Word Study → allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → day longי֝֗וֹםyō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study →. 3They sharpenשָֽׁנֲנ֣וּšā·nă·nū — To sharpen; to make keen or acuteH8150 — Full Word Study → their tonguesלְשׁוֹנָם֮lə·šō·w·nām — Tongue; language; speechH3956 — Full Word Study → likeכְּֽמוֹ־kə·mōw- — Like; according to; asH3644 — Full Word Study → snakesנָ֫חָ֥שׁnā·ḥāš — serpent, snakeH5175 — Full Word Study →; the venomחֲמַ֥תḥă·maṯ — Intense rage, burning wrath, divine angerH2534 — Full Word Study → of vipersעַכְשׁ֑וּב‘aḵ·šūḇ — viper, venomous snakeH5919 — Full Word Study → is onתַּ֖חַתta·ḥaṯ — Under, beneath, instead of, in place ofH8478 — Full Word Study → their lipsשְׂפָתֵ֣ימוֹśə·p̄ā·ṯê·mōw — Lips; edge, border, or shoreH8193 — Full Word Study →. Selahסֶֽלָה׃se·lāh — Pause or SelahH5542 — Full Word Study → 4Guard meשָׁמְרֵ֤נִיšā·mə·rê·nî — To guard, keep, observe, preserveH8104 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְהוָ֨ה׀Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, from the handsמִ֘ידֵ֤יmî·ḏê — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study → of the wickedרָשָׁ֗עrā·šā‘ — wicked, guilty, morally corruptH7563 — Full Word Study →. Keep me safeתִּנְצְרֵ֑נִיtin·ṣə·rê·nî — to guard, watch, keep, preserveH5341 — Full Word Study → from menמֵאִ֣ישׁmê·’îš — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → of violenceחֲמָסִ֣יםḥă·mā·sîm — Violence, cruelty, or wrongful harmH2555 — Full Word Study → whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → schemeחָ֝שְׁב֗וּḥā·šə·ḇū — to think, devise, plan, or reckonH2803 — Full Word Study → to make me stumbleלִדְח֥וֹתliḏ·ḥō·wṯ — to push, drive, or thrust away forcefullyH1760 — Full Word Study →. 5The proudגֵאִ֨ים׀ḡê·’îm — proud, haughty, arrogantH1343 — Full Word Study → hideטָֽמְנֽוּ־ṭā·mə·nū- — To hide, conceal, or bury secretlyH2934 — Full Word Study → a snareפַּ֡חpaḥ — Snare, trap, or thin metal sheetH6341 — Full Word Study → for me; the cordsוַחֲבָלִ֗יםwa·ḥă·ḇā·lîm — Rope, cord, line; inheritance; pain, sorrowH2256 — Full Word Study → of their netרֶ֭שֶׁתre·šeṯ — Net; mesh; network; trapH7568 — Full Word Study → are spreadפָּ֣רְשׂוּpā·rə·śū — to spread, stretch out, or extendH6566 — Full Word Study → alongלְיַד־lə·yaḏ- — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study → the pathמַעְגָּ֑לma‘·gāl — Track, path, or course of travelH4570 — Full Word Study →, and luresמֹקְשִׁ֖יםmō·qə·šîm — snare, trap, or netH4170 — Full Word Study → are set outשָֽׁתוּ־šā·ṯū- — to set, place, or appointH7896 — Full Word Study → for me. Selahסֶֽלָה׃se·lāh — Pause or SelahH5542 — Full Word Study → 6I sayאָמַ֣רְתִּי’ā·mar·tî — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → to the LORDלַ֭יהוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, “Youאָ֑תָּה’āt·tāh — You; second-person pronoun (singular or plural)H859 — Full Word Study → are my Godאֵ֣לִי’ê·lî — God, Mighty OneH410 — Full Word Study →.” Hearהַאֲזִ֥ינָהha·’ă·zî·nāh — to listen, give ear, hear attentivelyH238 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְ֝הוָ֗הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, my cry for helpתַּחֲנוּנָֽי׃ta·ḥă·nū·nāy — Earnest plea; humble supplication or entreatyH8469 — Full Word Study →. 7O GODיְהֹוִ֣הYah·weh — The LORD, the covenant God of IsraelH3069 — Full Word Study → the Lordאֲ֭דֹנָי’ă·ḏō·nāy — Master, LordH136 — Full Word Study →, the strengthעֹ֣ז‘ōz — Strength, power, or mightH5797 — Full Word Study → of my salvationיְשׁוּעָתִ֑יyə·šū·‘ā·ṯî — Deliverance, salvation, rescue from dangerH3444 — Full Word Study →, You shieldסַכֹּ֥תָהsak·kō·ṯāh — to cover, protect, fence in, shieldH5526 — Full Word Study → my headלְ֝רֹאשִׁ֗יlə·rō·šî — Head; chief; beginning; topH7218 — Full Word Study → in the dayבְּי֣וֹםbə·yō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → of battleנָֽשֶׁק׃nā·šeq — weapon, armed equipment, armorH5402 — Full Word Study →. 8Grantתִּתֵּ֣ןtit·tên — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → notאַל־’al- — do not; negative imperative particleH408 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְ֭הוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, the desiresמַאֲוַיֵּ֣יma·’ă·way·yê — Desire, longing, cravingH3970 — Full Word Study → of the wickedרָשָׁ֑עrā·šā‘ — wicked, guilty, morally corruptH7563 — Full Word Study →; do notאַל־’al- — do not; negative imperative particleH408 — Full Word Study → promoteתָּ֝פֵ֗קtā·p̄êq — to draw out, obtain, or secureH6329 — Full Word Study → their evil plansזְמָמ֥וֹzə·mā·mōw — wicked scheme or evil plotH2162 — Full Word Study →, lest they be exalted. Selahסֶֽלָה׃se·lāh — Pause or SelahH5542 — Full Word Study → 9May the headsרֹ֥אשׁrōš — Head; chief; beginning; topH7218 — Full Word Study → of those who surround meמְסִבָּ֑יmə·sib·bāy — surrounds, encompasses, sits around a tableH4524 — Full Word Study → be coveredיְכַסּוּמוֹ׃yə·ḵas·sū·mō — to cover, conceal, hideH3680 — Full Word Study → in the troubleעֲמַ֖ל‘ă·mal — Labor, toil, trouble, or arduous workH5999 — Full Word Study → their lips have causedשְׂפָתֵ֣ימוֹśə·p̄ā·ṯê·mōw — Lips; edge, border, or shoreH8193 — Full Word Study →. 10May burning coalsגֶּֽחָ֫לִ֥יםge·ḥā·lîm — burning coal, hot coalH1513 — Full Word Study → fallיָמִיטוּyå̄·mī·ṭū — to shake, move, slip, or fall awayH4131 — Full Word Study → on themעֲלֵיהֶ֗ם‘ă·lê·hem — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →; may they be thrownיַפִּלֵ֑םyap·pi·lêm — to fall; collapse; perishH5307 — Full Word Study → into the fireבָּאֵ֥שׁbā·’êš — Fire; flame; burningH784 — Full Word Study →, into the miry pitsבְּ֝מַהֲמֹר֗וֹתbə·ma·hă·mō·rō·wṯ — Deep pit or abyssH4113 — Full Word Study →, neverבַּֽל־bal- — not, lest, nothingH1077 — Full Word Study → to rise againיָקֽוּמוּ׃yā·qū·mū — To rise, stand, or be establishedH6965 — Full Word Study →. 11May no slandererאִ֥ישׁ’îš — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → be establishedיִכּ֪וֹןyik·kō·wn — to establish, prepare, or make firmH3559 — Full Word Study → in the landבָּ֫אָ֥רֶץbā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →; may calamityרָ֑עrā‘ — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study → hunt downיְ֝צוּדֶ֗נּוּyə·ṣū·ḏen·nū — to hunt, chase, or lie in waitH6679 — Full Word Study → the manאִישׁ־’îš- — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → of violenceחָמָ֥סḥā·mās — Violence, cruelty, or wrongful harmH2555 — Full Word Study →. 12I knowיָדַעְתִּyå̄·ḏaʿ·ti — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → thatכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְ֭הוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → upholdsיַעֲשֶׂ֣הya·‘ă·śeh — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → justiceדִּ֣יןdîn — Judgment, legal case, dispute, or controversyH1779 — Full Word Study → for the poorעָנִ֑י‘ā·nî — Poor, afflicted, humbleH6041 — Full Word Study → and defends the cause of the needyאֶבְיֹנִֽים׃’eḇ·yō·nîm — Poor person in dire needH34 — Full Word Study →. 13Surelyאַ֣ךְ’aḵ — Surely, certainly, only, neverthelessH389 — Full Word Study → the righteousצַ֭דִּיקִיםṣad·dî·qîm — Righteous, just person; one who is right with GodH6662 — Full Word Study → will praiseיוֹד֣וּyō·w·ḏū — To give thanks, praise, or acknowledgeH3034 — Full Word Study → Your nameלִשְׁמֶ֑ךָliš·me·ḵā — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study →; the uprightיְ֝שָׁרִ֗יםyə·šā·rîm — upright, straight, righteous, justH3477 — Full Word Study → will dwellיֵשְׁב֥וּyê·šə·ḇū — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → in Your presenceפָּנֶֽיךָ׃pā·ne·ḵā — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 140
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 140 is a prayer of petition and protection, arising from the psalmist's distress in the face of cruel and deceitful enemies. The poet describes in vivid detail the threats against him—violent men plotting harm, their deceptive words, and hidden traps set to ensnare him. Yet amid these desperate circumstances, the psalmist turns to God with confidence, appealing for deliverance and divine justice. This psalm moves from cry for help, to affirmation of faith in God's character, to a final assurance that the Lord will vindicate the afflicted and establish righteousness. It speaks powerfully to anyone facing persecution or the schemes of the wicked.

Verses 1–5: The Cry for Rescue from Wicked Adversaries

The psalmist opens with an urgent plea: "Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man" (v. 1). He uses parallel language—asking protection from both "the evil man" and "the violent man"—emphasizing the genuine danger he faces. Verses 2–3 paint a vivid portrait of the enemy's character: they scheme continually, sharpen their tongues like serpents, and speak poison. The imagery of sharpened tongues and adder's poison recalls Satan himself, the ancient serpent (Genesis 3), showing that deceitful, malicious speech is fundamentally at odds with God's nature.

Verses 4–5 describe concrete threats: hidden snares, nets, and traps designed to "overthrow my goings." This is not mere insult or gossip; these are coordinated efforts at destruction. The righteous person may find himself caught in systems of injustice orchestrated by the proud. The repeated "Selah" (vv. 3, 5) invites us to pause and reflect on the reality of spiritual opposition.

Application: When facing coordinated opposition or schemes designed to harm us, we need not retreat into fear or retaliation. Instead, like the psalmist, we bring our specific grievances before God, naming them clearly and casting our burden on Him who cares for us.

Verses 6–8: Affirmation of Faith and the Appeal for God's Justice

The mood shifts as the psalmist declares, "I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God" (v. 6). This simple but profound statement is the turning point. Despite the threats, he affirms his covenant relationship with the Lord. He calls Him "the strength of my salvation" (v. 7) and recalls that God has already protected him in battle. This is not blind hope but remembered faithfulness.

In verse 8, the psalmist asks God not to grant the wicked their desires or further their schemes. This is not vindictive; it is an appeal for God to maintain moral order. The psalmist recognizes that if the wicked prosper unchecked, they will "exalt themselves," leading others astray and dishonoring God's name.

Application: Our confidence in prayer rests on our relationship with God, not on our circumstances. Remembering His past faithfulness strengthens our faith in present trials.

Verses 9–13: The Assurance of Divine Judgment and Blessing

Verses 9–11 contain imprecations—prayers that God will judge the wicked. The psalmist asks that their own words ("the mischief of their own lips") become their undoing, and that evil pursue and overtake them. These verses reflect biblical justice: that God, who sees all hearts, will hold evildoers accountable. This is not personal vengeance but an appeal to the divine judge.

The psalm concludes with unshakeable confidence (vv. 12–13). The psalmist declares, "I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted" (v. 12). This is certainty, not speculation. Because God is just, the righteous will ultimately "give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence" (v. 13). Vindication and communion with God are assured.

Application: God's justice is sure, even when earthly circumstances suggest otherwise. Our calling is to remain faithful and trust that He will ultimately establish His kingdom.

Application for Today

Psalm 140 encourages persecuted believers everywhere that their suffering is seen by God and that He remains their refuge. We need not answer evil with evil or fear the schemes of the wicked; instead, we entrust our cause to the Lord, remembering His faithfulness and His commitment to justice. Like the psalmist, we can pray honestly about our struggles while resting in the certainty that God will vindicate His people and establish His righteous reign.

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