RESCUE ME FROM EVILDOERS
Passage: Psalm 140:1~13  
Key verse: 12
Psalm 140[a]For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 Rescue me,(A) Lord, from evildoers;
protect me from the violent,(B)
2 who devise evil plans(C) in their hearts
and stir up war(D) every day.
3 They make their tongues as sharp as(E) a serpent’s;
the poison of vipers(F) is on their lips.[b]
4 Keep me safe,(G) Lord, from the hands of the wicked;(H)
protect me from the violent,
who devise ways to trip my feet.
5 The arrogant have hidden a snare(I) for me;
they have spread out the cords of their net(J)
and have set traps(K) for me along my path.
6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”(L)
Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.(M)
7 Sovereign Lord,(N) my strong deliverer,
you shield my head in the day of battle.
8 Do not grant the wicked(O) their desires, Lord;
do not let their plans succeed.
1 Rescue me,(A) Lord, from evildoers;
protect me from the violent,(B)
2 who devise evil plans(C) in their hearts
and stir up war(D) every day.
3 They make their tongues as sharp as(E) a serpent’s;
the poison of vipers(F) is on their lips.[b]
4 Keep me safe,(G) Lord, from the hands of the wicked;(H)
protect me from the violent,
who devise ways to trip my feet.
5 The arrogant have hidden a snare(I) for me;
they have spread out the cords of their net(J)
and have set traps(K) for me along my path.
6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”(L)
Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.(M)
7 Sovereign Lord,(N) my strong deliverer,
you shield my head in the day of battle.
8 Do not grant the wicked(O) their desires, Lord;
do not let their plans succeed.
Footnotes
- Psalm 140:1 In Hebrew texts 140:1-13 is numbered 140:2-14.
- Psalm 140:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 8.
Cross references
- Psalm 140:1 : Ps 17:13; S 25:20; 59:2; 71:4; 142:6; 143:9
- Psalm 140:1 : ver 11; Ps 86:14
- Psalm 140:2 : Ps 36:4; 52:2; Pr 6:14; 16:27; Isa 59:4; Hos 7:15
- Psalm 140:2 : S Ps 68:30
- Psalm 140:3 : Ps 57:4
- Psalm 140:3 : Ps 58:4; Ro 3:13*; Jas 3:8
- Psalm 140:4 : Ps 141:9
- Psalm 140:4 : S Ps 36:11
- Psalm 140:5 : S Job 34:30; S Ps 119:110
- Psalm 140:5 : S Job 18:8
- Psalm 140:5 : Job 18:9; Ps 31:4; S 38:12
- Psalm 140:6 : S Ps 16:2
- Psalm 140:6 : S Ps 28:2, 6
- Psalm 140:7 : Ps 68:20
- Psalm 140:8 : Ps 10:2-3; S 66:7
- Psalm 140:9 : Pr 18:7
- Psalm 140:10 : Ps 11:6; 21:9; S Mt 3:10; Lk 12:49; Rev 20:15
- Psalm 140:11 : S Ps 34:21
- Psalm 140:12 : S Ps 82:3
- Psalm 140:12 : S 1Ki 8:45
- Psalm 140:12 : S Ps 35:10
- Psalm 140:13 : S Ps 138:2
- Psalm 140:13 : S Ps 11:7
- Psalm 140:13 : Ps 16:11
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
When we see that evil plans have been laid out against us, we can pray earnestly and see God as our deliverer and shield (7). We can also pray on behalf of others who are suffering due to evil attacks. It is right to pray that the plans of the wicked may not succeed (8). God’s justice returns the plans of evildoers back on their own heads (9-11). The Psalm ends with an expression of faith that God is a God of justice who fights for the cause of the needy (12-13).
Prayer: Father, thank you that you are against wicked and evil plans. Help me to be spiritually awake and be a prayer warrior so that your justice may prevail. May your kingdom come.
One Word: Lord, don’t let evil plans succeed.