Psalm 140: A Prayer for Rescue and Justice

140:1 O Lord, rescue me from wicked men! Protect me from violent men, 140:2 who plan ways to harm me. All day long they stir up conflict. 140:3 Their tongues wound like a serpent; a viper’s venom is behind their lips. (Selah) 140:4 O Lord, shelter me from the power of the wicked! Protect me from violent men, who plan to knock me over. 140:5 Proud men hide a snare for me; evil men spread a net by the path; they set traps for me. (Selah) 140:6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God.” O Lord, pay attention to my plea for mercy! 140:7 O sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle. 140:8 O Lord, do not let the wicked have their way! Do not allow their plan to succeed when they attack! (Selah) 140:9 As for the heads of those who surround me – may the harm done by their lips overwhelm them! 140:10 May he rain down fiery coals upon them! May he throw them into the fire! From bottomless pits they will not escape. 140:11 A slanderer will not endure on the earth; calamity will hunt down a violent man and strike him down. 140:12 I know that the Lord defends the cause of the oppressed and vindicates the poor. 140:13 Certainly the godly will give thanks to your name; the morally upright will live in your presence. Psalm 141 A psalm of David.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Psalm 140 is a lament from a righteous sufferer asking the Lord to rescue him from violent and deceitful enemies. The speaker trusts God as his defender, asks that evil plans fail, and leaves judgment in God’s hands. The psalm ends with confidence that the Lord defends the oppressed and vindicates the poor.

This psalm begins with urgent prayer. The speaker asks the Lord to rescue and protect him from wicked men who plan harm, stir up conflict, and use cruel speech. Their words are compared to serpent venom because their talk is destructive.

The psalm then turns to trust. The speaker says, “You are my God,” and calls the Lord his strong deliverer. He knows God can shield him in battle and stop the plans of the wicked.

The middle part asks for judgment on the enemies. These lines are severe, but they are prayers to God, not permission for personal revenge. The speaker asks God to deal justly with violent and slanderous men.

The psalm ends with confidence. The Lord defends the cause of the oppressed and vindicates the poor. Therefore the godly will give thanks to his name and live in his presence.

• God hears the prayer of the afflicted and can rescue from violent evil.
• Deceitful speech is treated as serious sin, not a small matter.
• Faith may honestly bring fear, danger, and a plea for justice before the Lord.
• The imprecations in the psalm are requests for divine justice, not a model for personal retaliation.
• The Lord defends the oppressed and vindicates the poor.
• The proper end of lament is trust and thanksgiving before God.

• O Lord, rescue me from wicked and violent men.
• Do not let the wicked succeed in their plans.
• The wicked and violent are under God’s judgment.
• The Lord defends the cause of the oppressed.
• The godly will give thanks to God’s name and live in his presence.
• Do not treat destructive speech as harmless.
• Do not copy the psalm’s imprecations as personal revenge.

Psalm 140 fits the covenant life of God’s people, where the righteous may suffer but are taught to appeal to the Lord as judge and protector. It joins the Bible’s larger witness that God defends the oppressed, opposes violent evil, and will vindicate the righteous. In the broader canon, this supports the hope of final divine justice and restoration.

When believers face false words, threats, or unfair treatment, they may pray honestly to God for rescue and justice. They should not answer evil with evil. Instead, they should trust the Lord, who sees violent plans and hears the cries of the oppressed.

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