The big picture
Psalms 140 opens in verse 1 with “Deliver me, O LORD , from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;”, reaches its middle movement near verse 7 with “O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of…”, and closes in verse 13 with “Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, evil, Selah, violent, wicked. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 13Psalms 140:1-7
1–7: Deliver me, O LORD , from the evil man: preserve me from the violent…
Psalms 140:1–7 opens with “Deliver me, O LORD , from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;” and reaches “O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, preserve, Selah.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Deliver me, O LORD , from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;” Naming Deliver keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.” The line’s distinctive content terms include continually, gathered, heart. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.
Psalms 140:1-7
King James Version1Deliver me, O LORD , from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;
2Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
3They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.
4Keep me, O LORD , from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
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.
6I said unto the LORD , Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD .
7O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
Psalms 140:8-13
8–13: Grant not, O LORD , the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked…
Psalms 140:8–13 opens with “Grant not, O LORD , the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt…” and reaches “Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by evil, LORD, wicked.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Grant not, O LORD , the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.” Naming Grant and Selah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 140:8-13
King James Version8Grant not, O LORD , the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
9As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
11Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
12I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
13Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 140:1 begins with “Deliver me, O LORD , from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 140:7 forms a natural hinge: “O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.”
The final note
Psalms 140:13 leaves the reader with “Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, evil, Selah, violent, wicked, head help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- lest
- so that something does not happen
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.