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Psalm 140:1

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Deliver me, LORD, from evil men. Preserve me from violent men:

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.
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Psalm 140:2 →
Notice

“Deliver” and “Preserve” make this a plea for safety from violent people, with no attempt to soften the danger or explain it away.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

How does David’s direct plea for deliverance shape what you feel able to ask God?

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Who comes to mind as you read David’s plea to be preserved from violent men?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

7 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 18:48He rescues me from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man.Psalm 140 asks for deliverance from violent men; Psalm 18 speaks of God granting that same kind of rescue.
Psalm 71:4Rescue me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.Both prayers ask God to rescue the speaker from people whose evil threatens his safety.
Psalm 140:4LORD, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet.Both verses ask the LORD for preservation from violent men, with verse 4 naming their intent to trip the speaker.
Habakkuk 1:2–3LORD, how long will I cry, and you will not hear? I cry out to you “Violence!” and will you not save?Both speakers cry to the LORD about violence, while Habakkuk also asks how long he must wait for help.
Psalm 140:11An evil speaker won’t be established on the earth. Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him.Violent men appear in both verses: the opening seeks protection from them, while verse 11 speaks of the violent man’s overthrow.
2 Samuel 22:49who brings me away from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man.Both texts name deliverance from violent men, one as a plea and the other as an account of God’s rescue.
2 Samuel 22:3God is my rock in whom I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge. My savior, you save me from violence.Both passages turn to God for safety from violence, with Samuel’s text describing him as refuge and savior.
Where this verse fits

Injustice and anger. fear for the future.

What the Bible says about anger →What the Bible says about fear →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Pray for protection for someone facing violence

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Encouragement

You do not have to soften the word violence when you pray. David names the threat and asks YHWH to deliver him and keep him safe.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 140:1. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 140 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

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).