Psalms 140
What Happens in This Chapter
David asks God to keep him safe from cruel people who plan to hurt him. He says their words are like snake poison, and they set traps for him. He asks God to stop their plans and to let their own evil come back on them. He ends by saying he knows God helps people who are poor and hurting.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;
1LORD, save me from people who do evil. Keep me safe from people who hurt others.
2Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
2They think up bad plans in their hearts. Every day they start fights.
3They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.
3Their words sting like a snake bite. Poison seems to sit on their lips. Selah.
"Selah" is a word in the song. Nobody today knows exactly what it meant. It may have told the singers to pause.
4Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
4LORD, keep me away from the hands of bad people. Keep me safe from people who hurt others. They are planning to make me trip and fall.
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.
5Proud people have hidden a trap for me. They laid ropes and a net along my path. They set traps to catch me. Selah.
The KJV word "gins" means traps for catching animals. It has nothing to do with the drink.
6I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.
6I said to the LORD, "You are my God." LORD, please listen when I ask for help.
7O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
7God, my Lord, you are the strong one who saves me. You covered my head on the day of battle.
8Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
8LORD, do not give bad people what they want. Do not let their evil plans go well. If you did, they would think they were great. Selah.
9As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
9People are all around me, waiting to hurt me. Let the harm their own words caused fall back on them.
10Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
10Let hot coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into fire. Let them fall into deep, muddy pits and not climb out.
11Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
11Do not let people who tell lies about others stay safe in the land. Let trouble chase down the person who hurts others.
12I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
12I know the LORD stands up for people who are hurting. He makes things right for people who are poor.
13Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.
13People who do what is right will surely thank you. Good people will live close to you.
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