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Psalm 140:2
those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war.
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.
Notice
Mischief begins in the heart and takes shape in repeated gatherings for war, making the danger David names both deliberate and shared among people.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What do you notice about the movement from hidden plans to people gathering for war?
Write on thisWhat would you want to ask God for someone facing the organized violence described here?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 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 56:6They conspire and lurk, watching my steps. They are eager to take my life.Both passages describe people acting together with harmful intent: gathering for war in Psalm 140 and conspiring against a life in Psalm 56.
Psalm 62:3How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down, like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?Both passages describe a collective threat, with people gathering for war in one and joining an assault against a man in the other.
Psalm 36:4He plots iniquity on his bed. He sets himself in a way that is not good. He doesn’t abhor evil.Both passages describe evil being planned, whether in the heart or on a bed, before describing a course of harmful action.
Psalm 64:5–6They encourage themselves in evil plans. They talk about laying snares secretly. They say, “Who will see them?”Both passages describe shared evil plans, with people gathering for war in Psalm 140 and encouraging one another in laying snares in Psalm 64.
Micah 2:1–3Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil on their beds! When the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand.Both passages connect devising evil with acting on it: gathering for war in the psalm and practicing planned harm when morning comes in Micah.
Hosea 7:6For they have prepared their heart like an oven, while they lie in wait. Their anger smolders all night. In the morning it burns as a flaming fire.Both passages locate hostile intent in the heart, with Hosea comparing that heart to an oven while people lie in wait.
Proverbs 12:20Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but joy comes to the promoters of peace.Both passages identify the heart as a place where evil is plotted; Proverbs also names the joy of those who promote peace.
Nahum 1:11One has gone out of you who devises evil against the LORD, who counsels wickedness.Both passages speak of devising evil, though Nahum names the LORD as the target of the wicked counsel.
1 Samuel 26:1–25The Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Doesn’t David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert?”David is the shared name: his psalm describes hostile gatherings, while the Ziphites disclose his hiding place to Saul.
1 Samuel 24:11–12Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe and didn’t kill you, know and see that …The psalm describes plans for violence; the speaker in Samuel says his life is being hunted despite his refusal to kill.
1 Samuel 23:19–24Then the Ziphites came up to Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Doesn’t David hide himself with us in the strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on …The link is limited: David’s prayer describes organized hostility, while the Ziphites tell Saul where David is hiding.
Zechariah 7:10Don’t oppress the widow, the fatherless, the foreigner, nor the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.’Both passages name devising evil in the heart: the psalm describes it in violent people, and Zechariah forbids it against a brother.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. fear for the future.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
You do not have to soften the word “war” when praying. David describes people bent on violence within a plea for YHWH to preserve him.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 140:2. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
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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).