To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

For the conductor, a psalm of David.

Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;

Rescue me, O L rd, from an evil man. Guard me from a man of violence,

who devise mischiefs in their heart; continually they stir up wars.

[from those] who plot evil in [their] heart. Let there be wars in their dwellings every day.

They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; a spider’s venom is under their lips. (Sela.)

They sharpen their tongues as a snake. A spider's venom is under their lips always.

Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man: who have purposed to trip up my feet.

Protect me, O L rd, from the hands of the evil-doer. Guard me from a man of violence, [from those] who plot to cause my feet to stumble.

The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set traps for me. (Sela.)

The proud have hid a trap against me; and [with] ropes [(to spring the trap)] they have spread a net beside my path. They have always set snares against me.

I said to the Lord, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord.

I said to the L rd: You [have always been] my strength. Listen, O L rd, to the voice of my entreaties.

O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast screened my head in the day of battle;

O G d, my L rd, the strength of my salvation, You have always shielded my head in the day of weapons.

grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked man: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. (Sela.)

Do not grant, O L rd, the desires of the wicked one [(Esav)]. Do not prosper his designs, [for] they always mount.

As for the head of those who compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

The ranks of those [(of Esav)] who would turn me [from You] — may the deceit of their lips envelop them!

Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, so that they do not rise up again.

Let burning coals collapse upon them [(killing them)]. Let Him cast them into [the] fire [of Gehinnom] and into wars from which they cannot rise.

Let not a slanderer be established in the earth: let evil hunt the violent man to his overthrow.

Let the slanderer [(Esav)] not be established in the earth. Let the evil of the man of violence hunt him into thrustings [(from one calamity to another)].

I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.

I know that [ultimately] the L rd will take up the cause of the afflicted one, the judgment of the poor.

Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Thy name: the upright shall dwell in Thy presence.

But [let Him do it quickly, so that] the righteous praise Your name [and] the just sit before You.