Psalm 140 is a prayer for rescue from people who plot harm, speak with poisonous tongues, and set traps for the innocent. Readers come to it when they are facing malicious gossip, hidden hostility, or real danger and want to know how to pray honestly while trusting God to act. The psalm answers that need by asking the LORD to guard the speaker, expose the schemes of the wicked, and vindicate the afflicted.
Psalm 140 Summary
The psalm opens with a cry for deliverance from “the evil man” and “the violent man,” people who gather continually to plan trouble. The speaker describes their tongues as sharpened like a serpent’s, with venom under their lips, and says they have hidden snares and cords along the path to make him stumble. Instead of answering them in kind, he turns to the LORD and confesses him as his God, asking to be heard.
The middle of the psalm shifts from description to petition. The speaker asks God not to grant the desires of the wicked and not to let their plans succeed, lest they grow prouder still. He then asks that the harm they intended for others fall back on their own heads. The final section moves from prayer to confidence: God will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the righteous will give thanks and dwell in his presence.
Background and Setting
Psalm 140 belongs to the Psalter, the collection of songs and prayers in the book of Psalms. It is traditionally attributed to David, and its heading in many Hebrew manuscripts identifies it as a psalm of David. Scholars generally place it within the broader tradition of individual laments, prayers offered by someone under threat, and most date its composition to the monarchic period, though the precise date cannot be fixed with certainty.
The psalm was prayed by and for people who lived with real opposition, whether that meant rivals in court, false accusers, or enemies who could not be fought openly. It sits among other psalms of David that call for God’s justice against deceivers, which gives it a place in Israel’s worship as a resource for anyone facing slander or violence. Its repeated use of the word “Selah” marks pauses in the musical rendering of the psalm, inviting the congregation to reflect before moving on.
Psalm 140 Section by Section
Verses 1-5: The Threat of Violent Tongues and Hidden Traps
3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips. Selah. 4 The LORD, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet.
Psalm 140:3-4 (WEB)
The opening verses name the danger plainly. The enemies are violent, they plan mischief in their hearts, and they gather together for war. The image of a serpent’s venom under the lips tells us their words are meant to wound, and the hidden snares and cords show that their attacks are sly as well as loud. The speaker does not minimize what is happening to him.
What stands out is that his first response is prayer. He asks the LORD to keep him from the hands of the wicked and to preserve him from people determined to make him fall. Before he describes his own strategy, he places his safety in God’s care.
Verses 6-8: Confession of God and Plea for Hearing
6 I said to the LORD, “You are my God.” Listen to the cry of my petitions, the LORD. 7 The LORD, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.
Psalm 140:6-7 (WEB)
Here the speaker stops describing his enemies and speaks directly to God. He says, “You are my God,” and asks that his petitions be heard. The title he uses for the LORD, the strength of my salvation, presents God as the source of his safety in the day of battle, not merely as a distant observer.
The prayer in verse 8 is bold: he asks God not to grant the desires of the wicked and not to let their evil plans succeed. He recognizes that unanswered schemes can lead to arrogance, and he would rather God frustrate them than watch the wicked grow more proud.
Verses 9-11: Requested Judgment on the Wicked
9 As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them. 10 Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise.
Psalm 140:9-10 (WEB)
These verses contain the psalm’s sharpest language. The speaker asks that the mischief of the wicked fall back on their own lips and that burning coals and miry pits overtake them. Such imprecations can be uncomfortable to read, but they express a conviction that justice belongs to God and that wrongdoing tends to return on the wrongdoer.
Verse 11 adds that an evil speaker will not be established in the earth and that violence will eventually hunt the violent person. The point is not that the speaker takes revenge himself, but that he entrusts the outcome to the God who judges rightly.
Verses 12-13: Confidence in the LORD’s Justice
12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the needy. 13 Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name. The upright will dwell in your presence.
Psalm 140:12-13 (WEB)
The psalm closes on a note of assurance. The speaker knows that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted and secure justice for the needy. His hope is not built on the outcome of the conflict but on the character of God, who takes the side of those who cannot defend themselves.
The final line looks past the immediate danger to a settled future: the righteous will give thanks to God’s name and dwell in his presence. The psalm ends not with the enemies’ defeat alone but with the renewed fellowship of those who trusted him.
Key Themes in Psalm 140
- God as Deliverer: The psalm repeatedly asks the LORD to rescue and preserve the speaker, presenting God as the one who guards his people from harm.
- The Power of Words: The enemies’ tongues are compared to serpents’ venom, showing how speech can be a weapon against the innocent.
- Justice Returned: The psalm prays that the harm the wicked intend will fall back on them, trusting God to hold wrongdoers accountable.
- Defense of the Afflicted: The closing confidence rests on God’s commitment to uphold the cause of the poor and needy.
- Thanksgiving and Presence: The psalm ends with the righteous giving thanks and dwelling in God’s presence, a picture of restored worship.
Lessons From Psalm 140 for Today
Many people feel the sting of a hostile workplace, a whispering group at church, or an online pile-on that spreads falsehoods about them. Psalm 140 gives words for that moment. The speaker does not pretend the attacks are harmless, and he does not start with his own counterattack. He brings the situation to God first, asking for protection and clarity. You can do the same when a coworker undermines you or a rumor circulates, naming the harm honestly before the LORD.
The psalm also teaches restraint in how we hope for justice. It is right to pray that the wicked be stopped and that their schemes fail, but the outcome belongs to God, not to our own revenge. When you feel tempted to repay a cruel word with a crueler one, you can hand the matter over and trust that the LORD maintains the cause of the afflicted.
Questions for Reflection
- When have you felt the sting of someone else’s words, and how did you first respond?
- What does it look like to bring a specific conflict to God in prayer before acting on it yourself?
- How do you hold together a desire for justice and a refusal to seek personal revenge?
- Where in your life do you need to be reminded that God defends those who cannot defend themselves?
A Prayer From Psalm 140
Lord, you are my God, and I come to you because the people around me are restless and their words cut deep. Keep me from the traps they have set and guard my steps where I cannot see the snare. Hear my cry and do not let the plans of the wicked succeed in ways that harden them or harm the innocent. Where I have been tempted to answer harshly, teach me to bring the matter to you instead. Defend the afflicted and the needy, and let my heart rest in your justice and your presence. I will give you thanks for the help that is already yours. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote Psalm 140?
The psalm is traditionally attributed to David, and its heading in many manuscripts names him. Scholars generally place it in the monarchic period, though the exact date and author cannot be confirmed.
What does “Selah” mean in Psalm 140?
“Selah” appears in verses 3, 5, and 8 and is generally understood as a musical or liturgical marker, likely signaling a pause. Its precise meaning is uncertain, but it invites the reader to stop and reflect.
Is it right to pray for enemies to be punished?
Psalm 140 prays that the harm of the wicked fall on them and that justice prevail, placing the outcome in God’s hands. Many Christians read such prayers as calls for God to act justly while also praying for the good of those who oppose them.
