Psalms 140:2

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Psalms 140:1–4 · Berean Standard Bible

1 Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence,

2 who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long.

3 They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah

4 Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked. Keep me safe from men of violence who scheme to make me stumble.

Hebrew words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Psalms 2:1

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

Psalms 2:2

The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One:

Psalms 21:11

Though they intend You harm, the schemes they devise will not prevail.

Psalms 36:4

Even on his bed he plots wickedness; he sets himself on a path that is not good; he fails to reject evil.

Psalms 38:12

Those who seek my life lay snares; those who wish me harm speak destruction, plotting deceit all day long.

Psalms 62:3

How long will you threaten a man? Will all of you throw him down like a leaning wall or a tottering fence?

Psalms 64:5

They hold fast to their evil purpose; they speak of hiding their snares. “Who will see them?” they say.

Psalms 64:6

They devise injustice and say, “We have perfected a secret plan.” For the inner man and the heart are mysterious.

Proverbs 12:20

Deceit is in the hearts of those who devise evil, but the counselors of peace have joy.

Hosea 7:6

For they prepare their heart like an oven while they lie in wait; all night their anger smolders; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.

Micah 2:1

Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands.

Micah 2:2

They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance.

Micah 2:3

Therefore this is what the LORD says: “I am planning against this nation a disaster from which you cannot free your necks. Then you will not walk so proudly, for it will be a time of calamity.

Nahum 1:11

From you, O Nineveh, comes forth a plotter of evil against the LORD, a counselor of wickedness.

Psalms 56:6

They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps while they wait to take my life.

Psalms 120:7

I am in favor of peace; but when I speak, they want war.

1 Samuel 23:19

Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon?

1 Samuel 23:20

Now, O king, come down whenever your soul desires, and we will be responsible for delivering him into your hand.”

1 Samuel 23:21

“May you be blessed by the LORD,” replied Saul, “for you have had compassion on me.

1 Samuel 23:22

Please go and prepare further. Investigate and watch carefully where he goes and who has seen him there, for I am told that he is extremely cunning.

1 Samuel 23:23

Observe and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the clans of Judah.”

1 Samuel 23:24

So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon,

1 Samuel 24:11

See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.

1 Samuel 24:12

May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.

1 Samuel 26:1

Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?”

1 Samuel 26:2

So Saul, accompanied by three thousand chosen men of Israel, went down to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there.

1 Samuel 26:3

Saul camped beside the road at the hill of Hachilah opposite Jeshimon, but David was living in the wilderness. When he realized that Saul had followed him there,

1 Samuel 26:4

David sent out spies to verify that Saul had arrived.

1 Samuel 26:5

Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the general of his army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the inner circle of the camp, with the troops camped around him.

1 Samuel 26:6

And David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” “I will go with you,” answered Abishai.

1 Samuel 26:7

That night David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the troops were lying around him.

1 Samuel 26:8

Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Now, therefore, please let me thrust the spear through him into the ground with one stroke. I will not need to strike him twice!”

1 Samuel 26:9

But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?”

1 Samuel 26:10

David added, “As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD Himself will strike him down; either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.

1 Samuel 26:11

But the LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and water jug by his head, and let us go.”

1 Samuel 26:12

So David took the spear and water jug by Saul’s head, and they departed. No one saw them or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up; they all remained asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.

1 Samuel 26:13

Then David crossed to the other side and stood atop the mountain at a distance; there was a wide gulf between them.

1 Samuel 26:14

And David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, “Will you not answer me, Abner?” “Who calls to the king?” Abner replied.

1 Samuel 26:15

So David said to Abner, “You are a man, aren’t you? And who in Israel is your equal? Why then did you not protect your lord the king when one of the people came to destroy him?

1 Samuel 26:16

This thing you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, all of you deserve to die, since you did not protect your lord, the LORD’s anointed. Now look around. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head?”

1 Samuel 26:17

Then Saul recognized David’s voice and asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” “It is my voice, my lord and king,” David said.

1 Samuel 26:18

And he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand?

1 Samuel 26:19

Now please, may my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, then may He accept an offering. But if men have done it, may they be cursed in the presence of the LORD! For today they have driven me away from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’

1 Samuel 26:20

So do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. For the king of Israel has come out to look for a flea, like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

1 Samuel 26:21

Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave error!”

1 Samuel 26:22

“Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of the young men come over and get it.

1 Samuel 26:23

May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. For the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed.

1 Samuel 26:24

As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and rescue me from all trouble.”

1 Samuel 26:25

Saul said to him, “May you be blessed, David my son. You will accomplish great things and will surely prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.