| 1For the music director; a psalm of David. O LORD, rescue me from wicked men! Protect me from violent men, | 1For the music director; a psalm of David. O LORD, rescue me from wicked men! Protect me from violent men, |
| 2who plan ways to harm me. All day long they stir up conflict. | 2who plan ways to harm me. All day long they stir up conflict. |
| 3Their tongues wound like a serpent; a viper's venom is behind their lips. (Selah) | 3Their tongues wound like a serpent; a viper's venom is behind their lips. (Selah) |
| 4O LORD, shelter me from the power of the wicked! Protect me from violent men, who plan to knock me over. | 4O LORD, shelter me from the power of the wicked! Protect me from violent men, who plan to knock me over. |
| 5Proud men hide a snare for me; evil men spread a net by the path; they set traps for me. (Selah) | 5Proud men hide a snare for me; evil men spread a net by the path; they set traps for me. (Selah) |
| 6I say to the LORD, "You are my God." O LORD, pay attention to my plea for mercy! | 6I say to the LORD, "You are my God." O LORD, pay attention to my plea for mercy! |
| 7O sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle. | 7O sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle. |
| 8O LORD, do not let the wicked have their way! Do not allow their plan to succeed when they attack! (Selah) | 8O LORD, do not let the wicked have their way! Do not allow their plan to succeed when they attack! (Selah) |
| 9As for the heads of those who surround me--may the harm done by their lips overwhelm them! | 9As for the heads of those who surround me--may the harm done by their lips overwhelm them! |
| 10May he rain down fiery coals upon them! May he throw them into the fire! From bottomless pits they will not escape. | 10May he rain down fiery coals upon them! May he throw them into the fire! From bottomless pits they will not escape. |
| 11A slanderer will not endure on the earth; calamity will hunt down a violent man and strike him down. | 11A slanderer will not endure on the earth; calamity will hunt down a violent man and strike him down. |
| 12I know that the LORD defends the cause of the oppressed and vindicates the poor. | 12I know that the LORD defends the cause of the oppressed and vindicates the poor. |
| 13Certainly the godly will give thanks to your name; the morally upright will live in your presence. | 13Certainly the godly will give thanks to your name; the morally upright will live in your presence. |
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