King James Version

Psalms 140:1

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

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Hebrew

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In the Hebrew text this line is Psalms 140:2. The heading is Hebrew Psalms 140:1.

Heading in the Hebrew text

לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַlamnatsechato excelנָצַחpreposition, with the article, verb, piel, participle, absolute — “to excel”, a verb used as a describing wordH5329properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanentexcel, chief musician (singer), oversee(-r), set forward.מִזְמ֥וֹרmizmorpsalmמִזְמוֹרnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “psalm”, the ordinary formH4210properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notespsalm.לְדָוִֽדledavidto Davidדָּוִדpreposition, noun, proper name — “to David”H1732David, the youngest son of JesseDavid.

חַלְּצֵ֣נִיchaltsenideliverחָלַץverb, piel, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “deliver”, a commandH2502to pull off; hence (intensively) to strip, (reflex.) to depart; by implication, to deliver, equip (for fight); present, strengthenarm (self), (go, ready) armed ([idiom] man, soldier), deliver, draw out, make fat, loose, (ready) prepared, put off, take away, withdraw self.יְ֭הוָהyehvahJehovahיְהֹוָהnoun, proper name — “Jehovah”H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodJehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה).מֵאָדָ֣םmeadamfrom personאָדָםpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “from person”, the ordinary formH120ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)[idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person.רָ֑עrabadרַעadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “bad”, the ordinary formH7451bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), distress, evil((-favouredness), man, thing), [phrase] exceedingly, [idiom] great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), [phrase] mark, mischief(-vous), misery…מֵאִ֖ישׁmeishfrom a certainאִישׁpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “from a certain”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phra…חֲמָסִ֣יםchamasimviolenceחָמָסnoun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “violence”, the ordinary formH2555violence; by implication, wrong; by meton. unjust gaincruel(-ty), damage, false, injustice, [idiom] oppressor, unrighteous, violence (against, done), violent (dealing), wrong.תִּנְצְרֵֽנִיtintserenibesiegedנָצַרverb, qal, imperfect, 2nd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “besieged”, an unfinished actionH5341to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.)besieged, hidden thing, keep(-er, -ing), monument, observe, preserve(-r), subtil, watcher(-man).

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(140-1) For the Leader. A Psalm of David. (140-2) Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man; preserve me from the violent man;

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Deliver me, O Jehovah, from the evil man; Preserve me from the violent man:

Young’s Literal Translation

To the Overseer. — A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O Jehovah, from an evil man, From one of violence Thou keepest me.

World English Bible

Deliver me, Yahweh, from evil men. Preserve me from violent men:

Darby Translation

Free me, O Jehovah, from the evil man; preserve me from the violent man:

Douay-Rheims

I have cried to the, O Lord, hear me: hearken to my voice, when I cry to thee.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

(140-1) For the Leader. A Psalm of David. (140-2) Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man; preserve me from the violent man;

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Rescue me, O Lord, from the evil man; deliver me from the unjust man.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἐξελοῦ με Κύριε ἐξ ἀνθρώπου πονηροῦ, ἀπὸ ἀνδρὸς ἀδίκου ῥῦσαί με·