1 T o the Overseer. -- A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O Jehovah, from an evil man, From one of violence Thou keepest me.

Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men;

2 W ho have devised evils in the heart, All the day they assemble wars.

They devise mischiefs in their heart; continually they gather together and stir up wars.

3 T hey sharpened their tongue as a serpent, Poison of an adder under their lips. Selah.

They sharpen their tongues like a serpent’s; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah!

4 P reserve me, Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked, From one of violence Thou keepest me, Who have devised to overthrow my steps.

Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent men who have purposed to thrust aside my steps.

5 T he 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.

The proud have hidden a snare for me; they have spread cords as a net by the wayside, they have set traps for me. Selah!

6 I have said to Jehovah, `My God Thou, Hear, Jehovah, the voice of my supplications.'

I said to the Lord, You are my God; give ear to the voice of my supplications, O Lord.

7 O Jehovah, my Lord, strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of armour.

O God the Lord, the Strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle.

8 G rant not, O Jehovah, the desires of the wicked, His wicked device bring not forth, They are high. Selah.

Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; further not their wicked plot and device, lest they exalt themselves. Selah!

9 T he chief of my surrounders, The perverseness of their lips covereth them.

Those who are fencing me in raise their heads; may the mischief of their own lips and the very things they desire for me come upon them.

10 T hey cause to fall on themselves burning coals, Into fire He doth cast them, Into deep pits -- they arise not.

Let burning coals fall upon them; let them be cast into the fire, into floods of water or deep water pits, from which they shall not rise.

11 A talkative man is not established in the earth, One of violence -- evil hunteth to overflowing.

Let not a man of slanderous tongue be established in the earth; let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

12 I have known that Jehovah doth execute The judgment of the afflicted, The judgment of the needy.

I know and rest in confidence upon it that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will secure justice for the poor and needy.

13 O nly -- the righteous give thanks to Thy name, The upright do dwell with Thy presence!

Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence (before Your very face).