1401 Deliver me, O Jehovah, from an evil man, From one of violence Thou keepest me. 2 Who have devised evils in the heart, All the day they assemble 'for' wars. 3 They sharpened their tongue as a serpent, Poison of an adder 'is' under their lips. Selah. 4 Preserve me, Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked, From one of violence Thou keepest me, Who have devised to overthrow my steps. 5 The proud hid a snare for me—and cords, They spread a net by the side of the path, Snares they have set for me. Selah. 6 I have said to Jehovah, 'My God 'art' Thou, Hear, Jehovah, the voice of my supplications.' 7 O Jehovah, my Lord, strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of armour.
8 Grant not, O Jehovah, the desires of the wicked, His wicked device bring not forth, They are high. Selah. 9 The chief of my surrounders, The perverseness of their lips covereth them. 10 They cause to fall on themselves burning coals, Into fire He doth cast them, Into deep pits—they arise not. 11 A talkative man is not established in the earth, One of violence—evil hunteth to overflowing. 12 I have known that Jehovah doth execute The judgment of the afflicted, The judgment of the needy. 13 Only—the righteous give thanks to Thy name, The upright do dwell with Thy presence!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 140:1-20
Commentary on Psalm 140:1-7
(Read Psalm 140:1-7)
The more danger appears, the more earnest we should be in prayer to God. All are safe whom the Lord protects. If he be for us, who can be against us? We should especially watch and pray, that the Lord would hold up our goings in his ways, that our footsteps slip not. God is as able to keep his people from secret fraud as from open force; and the experience we have had of his power and care, in dangers of one kind, may encourage us to depend upon him in other dangers.
Commentary on Psalm 140:8-13
(Read Psalm 140:8-13)
Believers may pray that God would not grant the desires of the wicked, nor further their evil devices. False accusers will bring mischief upon themselves, even the burning coals of Divine vengeance. And surely the righteous shall dwell in God's presence, and give him thanks for evermore. This is true thanksgiving, even thanks-living: this use we should make of all our deliverances, we should serve God the more closely and cheerfully. Those who, though evil spoken of and ill-used by men, are righteous in the sight of God, being justified by the righteousness of Christ, which is imputed to them, and received by faith, as the effect of which, they live soberly and righteously; these give thanks to the Lord, for the righteousness whereby they are made righteous, and for every blessing of grace, and mercy of life.