Rescue Me from the Violent
Study note
David asks God to rescue him from evil, violent people who plan to trip him up. They sharpen their tongues like a serpent and have venom on their lips.
1 Pull me away from evil people, LORD. Keep me safe from those who love violence. Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;
2 All day long they cook up wicked plans in their hearts and stir up one fight after another. Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
3 Their tongues are as sharp as a snake's fangs. Deadly poison hides behind their lips. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.
4 Guard me, LORD, from the grip of wicked people. Keep me safe from violent ones who dream up ways to knock me down. Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
5 Proud people have hidden traps and ropes along my path. They have spread out a net and set snares to catch me. The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.
God Will Uphold the Needy
Study note
David cries out: 'You are my God.' He asks God to hear his plea and shield him in battle. Do not grant the desires of the wicked.
6 I said to the LORD, 'You are my God.' Please listen, LORD, to my desperate cry for help. I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.
7 LORD God, you are my strong rescuer. You covered my head and kept me safe on the day of battle. O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
8 LORD, do not give wicked people what they want. Do not let their schemes succeed, or they will grow bolder. Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
The Wicked Will Fall
Study note
Let the trouble their own lips cause fall on them. Let them be thrown into fire and pits. David is sure that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. The righteous will praise God's name.
9 As for the people who surround me, let the harm they planned with their own words fall right back on them. As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10 Let hot coals rain down on them. Let them be thrown into fire and into deep pits they can never climb out of. Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
11 Do not let liars find a lasting home in this land. Let disaster hunt down every violent person and take them away. Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
12 I know for certain that the LORD stands up for people who are hurting and makes sure the poor get justice. I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
13 Without a doubt, people who do right will praise your name, and honest people will live close to you. Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.