Psalm 140    New International Version (NIV)

A psalm of David.

Theme:  Prayer for protection against those who slander or threaten you.  Deliverance begins with concentrating on our future life with God.
Author: David

1  Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men;
      protect me from men of violence,
2  who devise evil plans in their hearts
      and stir up war every day.
3  They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent's;
      the poison of vipers is on their lips.             Selah

4  Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked;
      protect me from men of violence
      who plan to trip my feet.
5  Proud men have hidden a snare for me;
      they have spread out the cords of their net
      and have set traps for me along my path.    Selah

6  O LORD, I say to you, "You are my God."
      Hear, O LORD, my cry for mercy.
7  O Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer,
      who shields my head in the day of battle-
8  do not grant the wicked their desires, O LORD;
      do not let their plans succeed,
      or they will become proud.Selah

9  Let the heads of those who surround me
      be covered with the trouble their lips have caused.
10 Let burning coals fall upon them;
      may they be thrown into the fire,
      into miry pits, never to rise.
11 Let slanderers not be established in the land;
      may disaster hunt down men of violence.

12 I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor
      and upholds the cause of the needy.
13 Surely the righteous will praise your name
      and the upright will live before you.

140:12 To whom can the poor turn when they are persecuted? They lack the money to get professional help; they may be unable to defend themselves. But there is always someone on their side - the Lord will stand by them and ultimately bring about justice. This should be a comfort for us all. No matter what our situation may be, the Lord is with us. But this truth should also call us to responsibility. As God's people, we are required to defend the rights of the powerless.