Skip to main content
Psalmlog Logo

Psalm 140

Psalm 140 brings violent threats and destructive speech before God, asking for protection and judgment while affirming his justice for the needy.

David asks YHWH to rescue him from violent people whose schemes include poisonous speech and hidden traps. The heading names David and addresses the Chief Musician, though no event is identified. He recalls God’s protection in battle and asks that his enemies’ plans fail. His prayer then turns to severe judgment against those who surround him, before closing with confidence that YHWH upholds the afflicted and secures justice for the needy.

injustice and angerfear for the futureanxiety or panic
Read
1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Deliver me, LORD, from evil men. Preserve me from violent men:
2those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war.
3They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips. Selah.
4LORD, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet.
5The proud have hidden a snare for me, they have spread the cords of a net by the path. They have set traps for me. Selah.
6I said to the LORD, “You are my God.” Listen to the cry of my petitions, LORD.
7LORD, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.
8LORD, don’t grant the desires of the wicked. Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud. Selah.
9As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise.
11An evil speaker won’t be established on the earth. Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
12I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the needy.
13Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name. The upright will dwell in your presence.
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected. Tap a number for its page.
Key verses
Psalm 140:8David asks God to stop evil plans from succeeding, recognizing that success would feed his enemies’ pride.
Psalm 140:5Hidden snares and nets portray deliberate schemes against David, showing why his plea for protection carries such urgency.
Psalm 140:3The serpent image exposes speech as a weapon, linking his enemies’ words with the violence that threatens him.
Where this chapter reaches

Romans quotes the psalm’s image of poison under human lips, and James shares its picture of the tongue as poisonous and destructive. Proverbs shares its themes of hidden snares, harmful speech, and judgment overtaking the wicked, alongside concern for justice for the poor.

Psalm 140's chapter linksAll strongest linksHover or tap a book
Notice

After reading the whole chapter

What stands out to you about David’s movement from hidden traps to confidence in God’s justice?

Write on this

How does the prayer for judgment shape your reading of the closing promise about the needy?

Write on this

Questions people ask about Psalm 140

Who wrote Psalm 140, and when was it written?

The heading identifies Psalm 140 as a psalm by David and directs it to the Chief Musician. It names no occasion or enemy. The references to battle, violent opponents, and hidden traps fit a setting of serious danger, but the text does not establish which event prompted the prayer.

Why does Psalm 140 ask for burning coals to fall on enemies?

Verse 10 asks for severe judgment through images of burning coals, fire, and inescapable pits. The surrounding verses describe people committed to violence and destructive speech. David asks God to bring their evil back upon them. The passage is a prayer addressed to God; it gives no command for personal retaliation.

What does the serpent imagery mean in Psalm 140:3?

The serpent and viper imagery describes the danger of the enemies’ speech. Their words carry harm like venom, matching the schemes and violence described around this verse. Later references to the mischief of their lips and an evil speaker show that destructive speech remains a central concern throughout the psalm.

Read it. Now write it.

Start an entry on Psalm 140. Your words go beside the text, and you get one next step for the week.

Psalms · 150 chapters
123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150
What the Bible says about anger →What the Bible says about fear →What the Bible says about anxiety →

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).