Historical
Psalm 140[a]
Prayer for Deliverance from the Wicked
1 For the leader. A psalm of David.
I
2 Deliver me, Lord, from the wicked;
preserve me from the violent,(A)
3 From those who plan evil in their hearts,
who stir up conflicts every day,
4 [b]Who sharpen their tongue like a serpent,
venom of asps upon their lips.(B)
Selah
II
5 Keep me, Lord, from the clutches of the wicked;
preserve me from the violent,
who plot to trip me up.(C)
6 [c]The arrogant have set a trap for me;
they have spread out ropes for a net,
laid snares for me by the wayside.
Selah
7 I say to the Lord: You are my God;(D)
listen, Lord, to the words of my pleas.
8 Lord, my master, my strong deliverer,
you cover my head on the day of armed conflict.
9 Lord, do not grant the desires of the wicked one;
do not let his plot succeed.
Selah
III
10 Those who surround me raise their heads;
may the mischief they threaten overwhelm them.
11 Drop burning coals upon them;(E)
cast them into the watery pit never more to rise.
12 Slanderers will not survive on earth;
evil will hunt down the man of violence to overthrow him.
13 For I know the Lord will take up the cause of the needy,
justice for the poor.
14 Then the righteous will give thanks to your name;
the upright will dwell in your presence.(F)
Psalm 141[d]
Prayer for Deliverance from the Wicked
1 A psalm of David.
Lord, I call to you; hasten to me;
listen to my plea when I call.
2 Let my prayer be incense[e] before you;
my uplifted hands an evening offering.(G)
3 Set a guard, Lord, before my mouth,
keep watch over the door of my lips.(H)
4 Do not let my heart incline to evil,
to perform deeds in wickedness.
On the delicacies of evildoers
let me not feast.
5 [f]Let a righteous person strike me; it is mercy if he reproves me.
Do not withhold oil from my head(I)
while my prayer opposes their evil deeds.
6 May their leaders be cast over the cliff,
so that they hear that my speeches are pleasing.
7 Like the plowing and breaking up of the earth,
our bones are strewn at the mouth of Sheol.
8 For my eyes are upon you, O Lord, my Lord;(J)
in you I take refuge; do not take away my soul.
9 Guard me from the trap they have set for me,
from the snares of evildoers.(K)
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while only I pass over them safely.
Psalm 142[g]
A Prayer in Time of Trouble
1 A maskil of David, when he was in the cave.[h] A prayer.
2 With my own voice I cry to the Lord;
with my own voice I beseech the Lord.
3 Before him I pour out my complaint,
tell of my distress in front of him.
4 When my spirit is faint within me,(L)
you know my path.(M)
As I go along this path,
they have hidden a trap for me.(N)
5 I look to my right hand to see(O)
that there is no one willing to acknowledge me.
My escape has perished;
no one cares for me.
6 I cry out to you, Lord,
I say, You are my refuge,(P)
my portion in the land of the living.(Q)
7 Listen to my cry for help,
for I am brought very low.(R)
Rescue me from my pursuers,
for they are too strong for me.
8 Lead my soul from prison,
that I may give thanks to your name.
Then the righteous shall gather around me[i]
because you have been good to me.
Psalm 143[j]
A Prayer in Distress
1 A psalm of David.
Lord, hear my prayer;
in your faithfulness listen to my pleading;
answer me in your righteousness.
2 Do not enter into judgment with your servant;
before you no one can be just.(S)
3 The enemy has pursued my soul;
he has crushed my life to the ground.(T)
He has made me dwell in darkness
like those long dead.(U)
4 My spirit is faint within me;
my heart despairs.(V)
5 I remember the days of old;
I ponder all your deeds;
the works of your hands I recall.(W)
6 I stretch out my hands toward you,
my soul to you like a parched land.(X)
Selah
7 Hasten to answer me, Lord;
for my spirit fails me.
Do not hide your face from me,
lest I become like those descending to the pit.(Y)
8 In the morning let me hear of your mercy,
for in you I trust.
Show me the path I should walk,
for I entrust my life to you.(Z)
9 Rescue me, Lord, from my foes,
for I seek refuge in you.
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.
May your kind spirit guide me
on ground that is level.
11 For your name’s sake, Lord, give me life;
in your righteousness lead my soul out of distress.
12 In your mercy put an end to my foes;
all those who are oppressing my soul,
for I am your servant.(AA)
Psalm 144[k]
A Prayer for Victory and Prosperity
1 Of David.
I
[l]Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
who trains my hands for battle,
my fingers for war;
2 My safeguard and my fortress,
my stronghold, my deliverer,
My shield, in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples under me.
II
3 [m]Lord, what is man that you take notice of him;
the son of man, that you think of him?(AB)
4 [n]Man is but a breath,
his days are like a passing shadow.(AC)
5 [o]Lord, incline your heavens and come down;
touch the mountains and make them smoke.(AD)
6 Flash forth lightning and scatter my foes;
shoot your arrows and rout them.
7 Reach out your hand from on high;
deliver me from the many waters;
rescue me from the hands of foreign foes.
8 Their mouths speak untruth;
their right hands are raised in lying oaths.[p]
9 O God, a new song I will sing to you;
on a ten-stringed lyre I will play for you.(AE)
10 You give victory to kings;
you delivered David your servant.(AF)
From the menacing sword 11 deliver me;
rescue me from the hands of foreign foes.
Their mouths speak untruth;
their right hands are raised in lying oaths.
III
12 May our sons be like plants(AG)
well nurtured from their youth,
Our daughters, like carved columns,
shapely as those of the temple.
13 May our barns be full
with every kind of store.
May our sheep increase by thousands,
by tens of thousands in our fields;
may our oxen be well fattened.
14 May there be no breach in the walls,
no exile, no outcry in our streets.(AH)
15 Blessed the people so fortunate;
blessed the people whose God is the Lord.(AI)
Psalm 145[q]
The Greatness and Goodness of God
1 Praise. Of David.
I will extol you, my God and king;
I will bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you;
I will praise your name forever and ever.(AJ)
3 Great is the Lord and worthy of much praise,(AK)
whose grandeur is beyond understanding.
4 One generation praises your deeds to the next
and proclaims your mighty works.(AL)
5 They speak of the splendor of your majestic glory,
tell of your wonderful deeds.(AM)
6 They speak of the power of your awesome acts
and recount your great deeds.(AN)
7 They celebrate your abounding goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice.
8 The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in mercy.(AO)
9 The Lord is good to all,
compassionate toward all your works.(AP)
10 All your works give you thanks, Lord
and your faithful bless you.(AQ)
11 They speak of the glory of your reign
and tell of your mighty works,
12 Making known to the sons of men your mighty acts,
the majestic glory of your rule.
13 Your reign is a reign for all ages,
your dominion for all generations.(AR)
The Lord is trustworthy in all his words,
and loving in all his works.
14 The Lord supports all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.(AS)
15 The eyes of all look hopefully to you;
you give them their food in due season.(AT)
16 You open wide your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is just in all his ways,
merciful in all his works.(AU)
18 The Lord is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.(AV)
19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.(AW)
20 The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he destroys.(AX)
21 My mouth will speak the praises of the Lord;
all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.