Psalms 139
1 For the end, a Psalm of David.
2 Rescue me, O Lord, from the evil
man; deliver me from the unjust man.
3 Who have devised injustice in their
hearts; all the day they prepared war.
4 They have sharpened their tongue as
the tongue of a serpent;
aRom. 3. 13.
the poison of asps is under their lips. Pause.
5 Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of
the sinner; rescue me from unjust men; who have purposed to overthrow my
goings. 6 The proud have hid a snare
for me, and have stretched out ropes for snares for
my feet; they set a stumbling-block for me near the path. Pause.
7 I said to the Lord, Thou art my God;
hearken, O Lord, to the voice of my supplication.
8 O Lord God, the strength of my
salvation; thou hast screened my head in the day of battle.
9 Deliver me not, O Lord, to the
sinner, according to my desire: they have devised
mischief against me; forsake me not, lest they should
be exalted. Pause.
10 As for the head of them that compass me, the
mischief of their lips shall cover them.
11 Coals of fire shall fall upon them
on the earth; and thou shalt cast them down in afflictions: they shall not
bear up under them.
12 A talkative man shall not prosper
on the earth: evils shall hunt the unrighteous man to destruction.
13 I know that the Lord will maintain
the cause of the
bGr. singular.poor, and the right of the needy ones.
14 Surely the righteous shall give
thanks to thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.