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Psalms 140

KJV · Chapter 140/150

1Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;

2Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.

3They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.

4Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.

5The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.

6I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord.

7O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

8Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.

9As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

10Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

11Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

12I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.

13Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

An urgent plea for protection against violent, slanderous men who set traps and speak with 'tongues sharp as a serpent,' ending with confidence that God will maintain the cause of the oppressed.

Explanation

This personal lament psalm uses vivid images of danger — traps, nets, serpent venom — to describe both physical and verbal threats (slander and manipulation), showing that the Bible recognizes the violence of words as a real form of aggression, not only physical attacks. The closing confidence that 'the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted' (v. 12) reflects a recurring theme of the psalter: God cares specifically for those who have no power to defend themselves. The application for today is seeking refuge in God both in the face of physical threats and in the face of slander, gossip, or verbal manipulation.

Fun facts

  • The comparison of wicked tongues to 'the poison of asps' (v. 3) is quoted by Paul in Romans 3:13 as part of a broader description of humanity's sinful condition.
  • This psalm is attributed to David and likely reflects periods of political persecution, possibly during Saul's reign or Absalom's rebellion.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. Psalms 140:1The request for protection begins broadly, with two general categories of danger — the evil man and the violent man — before the following verses get into specific details.
  2. Psalms 140:2The evil described begins as an inward thought and becomes collective action: it is first planned in the heart, then becomes people gathering on purpose for conflict.
  3. Psalms 140:3Comparing the tongue to a snake’s poison is a vivid way of describing malicious speech. The image says that words of this kind can wound and destroy just as much as a physical attack.
  4. Psalms 140:4The enemies’ specific tactic appears here: it is not a direct attack, it is pushing his steps off the path, a trap more subtle than open confrontation.
  5. Psalms 140:5Snares, cords, and nets spread along the path were real hunting tools used at the time. Comparing plots and conspiracies to these traps describes hidden dangers that the victim only notices too late.
  6. Psalms 140:6Even before the request comes the declaration of belonging: “Thou art my God” — reaffirming the relationship first, before presenting the plea.
  7. Psalms 140:7The image is military: the head “covered” on the day of battle recalls a protective helmet, used here to describe real deliverances already experienced before.
  8. Psalms 140:8The request is not just that the evil fail, it is that it never even happen: blocking the wicked man’s desire before he manages to exalt himself because of it.
  9. Psalms 140:9It is a request for mirrored justice: that the very evil coming out of the enemies’ mouths come back to cover them, their own weapon becoming the cause of their downfall.
  10. Psalms 140:10Burning coals, fire, and deep pits pick back up, as punishment, the very same trap-tools the enemies had prepared earlier. A logic where the evil planned for someone else ends up falling back on the one who planned it.
  11. Psalms 140:11It sounds like a proverb: whoever speaks evil finds no stability on earth, and evil itself hunts the violent man down until it finally drives him out for good.
  12. Psalms 140:12The tone shifts from a personal request to a statement of general principle: this is not just his own hope, it is a certainty about how God treats any oppressed person.
  13. Psalms 140:13The psalm ends with an expected consequence: in light of this justice, the righteous will give thanks and the upright will be able to live securely in God’s presence.

Chapters

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