Psalms 140 · Verse 1

Psalms 140:1

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;
Psalms 140:1, King James Version

Psalms 140:1 in other translations

BSBFor the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence,
WEBFor the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Deliver me, LORD, from evil men. Preserve me from violent men:
ASVFor the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O Jehovah, from the evil man; Preserve me from the violent man:
YLTTo the Overseer. --A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O Jehovah, from an evil man, From one of violence Thou keepest me.
DARBYTo the chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Free me, O Jehovah, from the evil man; preserve me from the violent man:
BBEO Lord, take me out of the power of the evil man; keep me safe from the violent man:
WebsterTo the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;

What does Psalms 140:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Psa 140:1-13. The style of this Psalm resembles those of David in the former part of the book, presenting the usual complaint, prayer, and confident hope of relief.

1. evil man--Which of David's enemies is meant is not important.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The psalmist prays against his enemies, Psa 140:1-6; returns thanks for help, Psa 140:7; describes his enemies, and prays farther against them, Psa 140:8-11. His confidence in God, Psa 140:12, Psa 140:13. The Hebrew, and all the Versions, attribute this Psalm to David; and it is supposed to contain his complaint when persecuted by Saul. The Syriac determines it to the time when Saul endeavored to transfix David with his spear. Verse 1 From the evil man - Saul, who was full of envy, jealousy, and cruelty against David, to whom both himself and his kingdom were under the highest obligations, endeavored by every means to destroy him.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 140:1-7
The more danger appears, the more earnest we should be in prayer to God. All are safe whom the Lord protects. If he be for us, who can be against us? We should especially watch and pray, that the Lord would hold up our goings in his ways, that our footsteps slip not. God is as able to keep his people from secret fraud as from open force; and the experience we have had of his power and care, in dangers of one kind, may encourage us to depend upon him in other dangers.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 140:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

חַלְּצֵ֣נִיcha.le.Tze.nirescue meH2502
יְ֭הוָהYah.wehO YahwehH3068
מֵאָדָ֣םme.'a.Damfrom a manH120
רָ֑עRa'evilH7451
מֵאִ֖ישׁme.'Ishfrom a man ofH376
חֲמָסִ֣יםcha.ma.Simviolence<s>H2555
תִּנְצְרֵֽנִי\׃tin.tze.Re.niyou will preserve meH5341

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 140:1

  • Psalms 18:48

    He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

  • Psalms 140:4

    Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.

  • Psalms 71:4

    Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

  • Habakkuk 1:2-3

    O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.

  • Psalms 17:13

    Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:

  • Psalms 140:11

    Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

  • Psalms 43:1

    Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.

  • Psalms 59:1-3

    To the chief Musician, Al–taschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men. For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 David prays to be delivered from Saul and Doeg.
8 He prays against them.
12 He comforts himself by confidence in God.

A.M. 2942. B.C. 1062. Deliver.
43:1; 59:1-3; 71:4
violent man. Heb. man of violences.
4,11; 18:48; *marg:
Hab 1:2,3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 140:1

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;

  • Psalms 140:2

    Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.

Read all of Psalms 140

Psalms 140:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Al Músico principal: Salmo de David. LÍBRAME, oh Jehová, de hombre malo: guárdame de hombre violento;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Au chef de musique. Psaume de David.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Befreie mich, Jehova, von dem bösen Menschen; vor dem Manne der Gewalttaten behüte mich!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Psalmus David. Domine, clamavi ad te: exaudi me; intende voci meæ, cum clamavero ad te.