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PSALM 140

To him that presides: a Psalm of David.

1. Deliver me, O jehovah, from the evil man; preserve me from the roan of violence.
2. Who devise evils in their heart, who, all the day long, are gathered together for war.
3. They sharpen their tongues like serpents, the venom of asps is under their lips. Selah.
4. Guard me, O jehovah, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the man of violence, who devise how they may overthrow my steps.
5. The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the way-side; they have set traps for me. Selah.
6. I say to jehovah: You are my god! Hearken to the voice of my supplications, O jehovah.
7. O lord jehovih, you are the strength of my salvation; you have covered my head in the day of battle.
8. Grant not, O jehovah, the desires of the wicked; suffer not his wicked device to prevail, lest they be exalted.
9. May the gall of those who beset me,—may the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
10. May burning coals be cast down upon them!—May they be cast by fire into deep pits, whence they cannot rise again!
11. Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: let evil hunt the man of violence to his overthrow.
12. I know that jehovah will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
13. Surely, the just shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence.

Verses 1, 2, 3. Deliver me from the evil man, and preserve me from the man of violence, who think evils in their heart, who all the day long are gathered together for war, they sharpen their tongues like serpents. By the evil man, and the man of violences, are signified those who pervert the truths of the Word, for he is called a man of violences, who, from a wicked intention, offers violence to the truths of the Word, by perverting them; such wicked intention is further described by devising evils in the heart, and the perversion of the truths of the Word by being gathered together all the day for war; the ratiocinations by which they prevail, are signified by wars, wherefore it is also added, they sharpen their tongues like serpents. AE 734.

Verse 5. Snare—cords—traps. For the signification of snares, etc. see Psalm 141:9, 10, Exposition.

Verse 7. O Lord (Adonai) Jehovih; see Psalm 109:21, Exposition.

Verses 9, 10, 11. May the gall of those who beset me, — may the mischief of their lips overwhelm them, — may burning coals be cast down upon them, — may they be cast by fire into deep pits, whence they cannot rise again; a man of a tongue shall not be established on the earth. By gall is signified truth falsified, which in itself is the false; by the mischief of their lips, is signified the false of doctrine thence derived, for lips signify doctrine; by the burning coals which are cast upon them, and by the fire by which they are cast into deep pits, is signified the pride of self-derived intelligence and. the love of self, by which they fall into mere falses, burning coals signifying the pride of self-derived intelligence, fire, the love of self, and deep pits, falses; all falses of doctrine in the church, and all falsifications of the Word, exist also from the pride of self-derived intelligence, and from the love of self; hence it is evident what is signified by a man of a tongue shall not be established on the earth, namely a false religion. AE 455.

Verse 13. The just shall give thanks. For the signification of just, and being justified, see Psalm 143:2, Exposition.