The Bible — World English Bible
Psalm 140
In brief
Psalm 140 is a prayer of David facing wicked men: they plan evil, sharpen their tongues like a serpent and set traps. The psalmist calls on the Lord for help, declares “You are my God,” and asks that the plans of the wicked fail. He ends with the certainty that God upholds the cause of the poor and that the upright will live in his presence.
The chapter in 4 parts
1Deliver me, Yahweh, from the evil man. Preserve me from the violent man:
2those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war.
3They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips.
4Yahweh, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet.
5The proud have hidden a snare for me, they have spread the cords of a net by the path. They have set traps for me.
6I said to Yahweh, “You are my God.” Listen to the cry of my petitions, Yahweh.
7Yahweh, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.
8Yahweh, don’t grant the desires of the wicked. Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud.
9As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise.
11An evil speaker won’t be established in the earth. Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
12I know that Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the needy.
13Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name. The upright will dwell in your presence.
Key verses
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips.
The tongue compared to a serpent shows the destructive power of words: slander, lies, scheming. The attack is not only physical.
I said to Yahweh, “You are my God.” Listen to the cry of my petitions, Yahweh. Yahweh, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.
In the middle of danger, David turns to God and calls him his God. He recognizes him as his strength and as the protector of his head in the day of battle.
Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise.
This verse is a very harsh cry for justice. Psalms of this kind entrust judgment to God instead of taking revenge, which the New Testament clarifies by calling us to love our enemies.
I know that Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the needy.
The last movement of the psalm is a certainty: God does justice to the afflicted and the needy, even if that justice is not yet visible.
Bible verses to meditate on
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Frequently asked questions about Psalm 140
What does Psalm 140 mean?
Psalm 140 is the prayer of a man threatened by violence and slander, who places his cause in God's hands. It begins with a cry for help, moves to a declaration of trust, then asks for justice. It shows that you can tell God your fear and your anger without taking revenge yourself.
Who wrote Psalm 140?
The title attributes it to David, for the chief musician. David knew the traps of Saul, of Saul's advisers and later of his own close circle. The text does not say which period it refers to, which allows it to be read also as the prayer of any believer exposed to slander.
How can I pray with Psalm 140?
Start by naming to God what threatens you, using the words of verses 1 to 5. Then say to him “You are my God” as in verse 6. For the severe verses, leave the judgment to God instead of repaying evil, and pray also for those who wrong you.
World English Bible translation — public domain.