Prayer for Protection against the Wicked.

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

1Rescue me, LORD, from evil people;

Protect me from violent men

2Who devise evil things in their hearts;

They continually stir up wars.

3They sharpen their tongues like a snake;

The venom of a viper is under their lips. Selah

4Keep me, LORD, from the hands of the wicked;

Protect me from violent men

Who [a]intend to [b]trip up my feet.

5The proud have hidden a trap for me, and snares;

They have spread a net at the [c]wayside;

They have set snares for me. Selah

6I said to the LORD, “You are my God;

Listen, LORD, to the sound of my pleadings.

7“[d]GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation,

You have covered my head on the day of [e]battle.

8“Do not grant, LORD, the desires of the wicked;

Do not bring about his evil planning, so that they are not exalted. Selah

9“As for the head of those who surround me,

May the harm of their lips cover them.

10“May burning coals fall upon them;

May they be cast into the fire,

Into bottomless pits from which they cannot rise.

11“May a [f]slanderer not endure on the earth;

May evil hunt a violent person [g]violently.”

12I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted,

And justice for the poor.

13Certainly the righteous will give thanks to Your name;

The upright will dwell in Your presence.