Tree of Life Version
Psalms 140:4
4They sharpen their tongue like a serpent’s —viper’s venom is under their lips. Selah
Psalms 140:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
- New International Version (NIV)Keep me safe, Lord, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent, who devise ways to trip my feet.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; Preserve me from violent men, Who have purposed to make my steps stumble.
Context of Psalms 140:4
2Rescue me, Adonai, from the evil man. Protect me from the violent men— 3who devise evil in their heart— every day they stir up wars. They sharpen their tongue like a serpent’s —viper’s venom is under their lips. Selah 5Keep me safe, Adonai, from the clutches of the wicked. Protect me from the man of violence who planned to push me off my feet. 6The proud have hidden a trap and cords for me. They spread out a net by the path. They set snares for me. Selah
Read all of Psalms 140Psalms 140:4 word by word
שָׁמְרֵ֤נִי יְהוָ֨ה׀ מִ֘ידֵ֤י רָשָׁ֗ע מֵאִ֣ישׁ חֲמָסִ֣ים תִּנְצְרֵ֑נִי אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָ֝שְׁב֗וּ לִדְח֥וֹת פְּעָמָֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Keepשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: guardH8104
- me, O Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- from the handsיָדyâd · handH3027
- of the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
- preserveנָצַרnâtsar · to watchH5341
- me from the violentחָמָסchâmâs · violenceH2555
- manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- who have purposedחָשַׁבchâshab · to devise: deviseH2803
- to overthrowדָּחָהdâchâh dâchach · to thrustH1760
- my goingsפַּ֫עַםpa‛am pa‛ămâh · beatH6471
Cross-references for Psalms 140:4
- Psalms 17:8Protect me like the pupil of the eye. Hide me in the shadow of Your wings,
- Psalms 36:11Continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, and Your justice to the upright in heart.
- Psalms 37:32The wicked lies in wait for the righteous, seeking to slay him.
- Psalms 55:1For the music director, on stringed instruments, a contemplative song of David.
- Psalms 71:4My God, rescue me out of the hand of the wicked, out of the grasp of an evil, ruthless man.
- Psalms 140:1For the music director: a psalm of David.
- Psalms 17:5My steps have kept on Your paths. My feet have not slipped.
- Proverbs 18:5Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
Commentaries on Psalms 140:4
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked - See the notes at Psalm 71:4. This is a repetition of the prayer in Psalm 140:1. Who have purposed to overthrow my goings - To thrust me down as I go; to defeat my plans; to destroy me. They endeavor to prevent my accomplishing what I had designed to do.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5The psalmist prays for God's protection (see Psalm 121), asking the Lord to keep him safe from the wicked's many plans.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-52-5. This character of the wicked, and the devices planned against the pious, correspond to Psa 10:7; 31:13; 58:4, &c.Read the comment
- Rashi on Tanakh · v. 4the venom of a spider Heb. חמתעכשוב. חמת is an expression of venom, as (Deut. 32:33): “the venom of (חמת) dragons is their wine,” for if you interpret it as an expression of wrath, does an expression of wrath fit with wine? Rather, it is an expression of venom, venimos in Old French. Similarly, here the term venom relates to “under the lips.”Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 140:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 140
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
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