1For the choir director: A psalm of David. O LORD, rescue me from evil people. Preserve me from those who are violent,2those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long.3Their tongues sting like a snake; the poison of a viper drips from their lips. Interlude4O LORD, keep me out of the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from those who are violent, for they are plotting against me.5The proud have set a trap to catch me; they have stretched out a net; they have placed traps all along the way. Interlude6I said to the LORD, "You are my God!" Listen, O LORD, to my cries for mercy!7O Sovereign LORD, my strong savior, you protected me on the day of battle.8LORD, do not give in to their evil desires. Do not let their evil schemes succeed, O God. Interlude9Let my enemies be destroyed by the very evil they have planned for me.10Let burning coals fall down on their heads, or throw them into the fire, or into deep pits from which they can't escape.11Don't let liars prosper here in our land. Cause disaster to fall with great force on the violent.12But I know the LORD will surely help those they persecute; he will maintain the rights of the poor.13Surely the godly are praising your name, for they will live in your presence.
(the following is from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary -- www.christnotes.org)
"Chapter Contents
David encourages himself in God. (1-7) He prays for, and prophesies the destruction of, his persecutors. (8-13)
Commentary on Psalm 140:1-7
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.
Commentary on Psalm 140:8-13
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."
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