1.
Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;
To the chief Musician. See App-64 .
Title. A Psalm. Hebrew. mizmor. See App-65 .
of David = by David.
LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
the evil = an evil man. Hebrew. ra'a' . App-44 . man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .
man. Hebrew ' i s h . App-14 .
2.
Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
Which = Who.
mischiefs. Not the same word as in Psalms 140:9 , but the same word as "evil" in Psalms 140:1 .
3.
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.
tongues. Singular. See note on Psalms 140:11 . Quoted in Romans 3:13 .
Selah. Connecting the evil with the prayer to be delivered; thus marking the Structure ( App-66 )
4.
Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha'. App-41 .
5.
The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.
by the wayside. See Job 18:10 .
6.
I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.
GOD. Hebrew El App-4 .
7.
O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
GOD the Lord. Hebrew. Jehovah. Adonai. App-4 . (2).
of. Genitive of character = my saving strength. covered = screened or protected. Not the same word as in Psalms 140:9 .
8.
Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
wicked. Hebrew. rasha'. Singular. App-44 . The same word as in Psalms 140:4 .
wicked device = devices or plots. Occurs only here.
9.
As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
those that compass me about = one word in Hebrew.
mischief = labour, toil Hebrew. 'amal. App-44 .
cover = overwhelm. Not the same word as in Psalms 140:7 .
10.
Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
burning coals. Put by Figure of speech Metony m y (of Adjunct), App-6 , for cruel words and hard speeches which wound the heart as fire wounds the body. Compare Proverbs 16:27 ; Proverbs 26:23 .
that they, &c. = let them not, &c.
11.
Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
evil speaker. Hebrew a man of tongue; not "a man of lips" (= talkative. Job 11:2 ), but with an evil motive = a slanderer. Compare Psalms 140:3 .
Evil shall hunt = Let evil hunt.
12.
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
the afflicted = a poor one.
the poor = helpless ones.
13.
Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.
name. See note on Psalms 20:1 .
dwell in Thy presence. Compare Psalms 11:7 ; Psalms 16:11 .