Psalms 140

David prayeth for deliverance from evil men, with confident assurance in the Lord: praying likewise for the destruction of the slanderers; with confident assurance of Gods righteousness.

1. A Psalm of David, for the chief song-master: [See Psalms 4:1.]

2. Rescue me, LORD, from the evil man; [Some do understand by the evil man, Doeg; others, Saul: some others read here evil men, viz. Such as in hostile manner persecuted David, as v.3.] preserve (or keep) me from the man of all violences. See 2 Sam.22.49.]

3. Which think much evil [Heb. Evils] in their heart: [the meaning is; which seek and endeavour to oppress me, not onely by open force and violence; but also, by all manner of wiles and subtle practices] meet every day together to make war.

4. They whet their tongue like a Serpent: [The Naturalists do write, that Serpents use to whet their tongues when they will sting any. Compare Psalms 58:5.] hot Adder-poison is under their lips. [Understand here such kind of Adders; as can shoot forth their poison.] Sela!

5. Keep me LORD, from the hand of the wicked: guard me from the man of all violence; [See above, v.2.] (of them) which think to thrust away my feet: [or, my treadings, steps, passings, viz. To make me fall.]

6. The proud have hid a snare for me, and coards: they have spread forth a net, at the way side: [Heb. At, or, on the hand of the traek. i.e. of the path, which namely, they know I was wont to walk in] traps they have set me. Sela!

7. I said unto the LORD, thou art my God: take to ear, O LORD, the voice of my supplications.

8. LORD Lord, strength of my salvation, [i.e. my strong salvation my strong Saviour, that hast power to help and save me] thou hast covered my head [i.e. thou hast kept and protected me against all dangers and difficulties, covering as it were my head with an helmet or shield] in the day of arming. [i.e. in the battle, or fight, encounter.]

9. Give not LORD, the desire of the wicked: [i.e. give him not the thing which he desireth, viz. That wicked one, that seeks for my destruction] do not further his evil purpose: they would exalt themselves. [or, be lifted up, i.e. they would but grow more insolent and self-willed, if they had all things according to their wish. Compare, Deut.32.v.7.] Sela!

10. At for the head of them that compass me about; [Understand here some particular evil man, the chief and ring-leader of Davids enemies, whether Saul or some other. Others the heads, i.e. the principal and chiefest men among the enemies, in the plural number, as v.11.or, the troop, compare Job.1.17. others, the poison. See above, v.4.] let the surcharge [or toil burthen] of their lips cover them. [to wit, the toil or trouble, which the foresaid head, together with his adherents, compassing me about, do put upon me with their evil tongues.]

11. Let fierie coals be powered upon them: [i.e. the fire from heaven, as upon those of Sodom and Gomorra, for their destruction] let him [God namely] make them to fall into the fire, [i.e. into the fire of hell] into deeps pits, i.e. into grievous pains and miseries] that they may not rise again.

12. A man of (an evil) tongue, [i.e. an evil-speaker, or a prater, that hath his tongue ever ready, and at command, using and abusing the same, according to his own pleasure. So we have Job 11:2. a man of lips: see the Annotation there. Exodus 4:10. a man of words. Job 22:8. a man of arms] shall not be established upon the earth; an evil man of violence one shall hunt, (or pursue,) [i.e. he shall at length by his own malice and evil practices fall into great trouble and vexation; like a wild beast, which after much running this way and that way, comes or runs into its own ruine at last] till he be wholly chased away. [Heb. Unto overthrowings, or, expulsions.]

13. I know that the LORD will execute [Hebr. Do] the plea of the afflicted, (and) the right of the needy. [viz. By delivering them out of the hands of their adversaries. See 1 Kings 8.on v.45.]

14. Assuredly, the righteously shall praise thy Name: the upright shall remain before thy face. [i.e. thou shalt always assist them, with thy favour, help and protection.