Chapter 140
David composed this psalm against his slanderers, especially the chief conspirator Doeg. Anyone confronted by slanderers should recite this psalm.
1For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2Rescue me from the evil man, protect me from the man of violence,
3who devise evil schemes in their heart; every day they gather for wars.
4They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; the spider's venom is forever under their lips.
5Guard me, Lord, from the hands of the wicked, protect me from the man of violence-those who plot to cause my steps to slip.
6Arrogant ones have hidden a snare for me, and ropes; they spread a net by my path, they set traps for me continually.
7I said to the Lord, "You are my God!" Listen, O Lord, to the voice of my pleas.
8God, my Lord, the strength of my deliverance, You sheltered my head on the day of armed battle.
9Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; fulfill not his scheme, make it unattainable forever.
10As for the head of my besiegers, let the deceit of their own lips bury them.
11Let burning coals fall upon them; let it cast them down into the fire, into deep pits, never to rise again.
12Let not the slanderous man be established in the land; let the evil of the man of violence trap him until he is overthrown.
13I know that the Lord will execute judgement for the poor, justice for the needy.
14Indeed, the righteous will extol Your Name; the upright will dwell in Your presence.
Chapter 141
This psalm teaches an important lesson: One should pray for Divine assistance that his mouth not speak that which is not in his heart. The gatekeeper only allows the gate to be opened for a purpose; let it be the same with one's lips.
1A psalm by David. O Lord, I have called You, hasten to me; listen to my voice when I call to You.
2Let my prayer be set forth as incense before You, the raising of my hands as an afternoon offering.
3O Lord, place a guard for my mouth, keep watch over the door of my lips.
4Do not incline my heart to a bad thing-to perform deeds in wickedness, with men, doers of evil; let me not partake of their delicacies.
5Let the righteous one strike me with kindness and let him rebuke me; like the finest oil, let my head not refuse it. For as long [as I live], my prayer is [to preserve me] from their harm.
6For their judges have slipped because of their [hearts of] rock, though they heard my words and they were pleasant.
7As one who chops and splinters [wood] on the ground, so have our bones been scattered to the mouth of the grave.
8For to You, God, my Lord, are my eyes; in You I take shelter; do not pour out my soul.
9Protect me from the hands of the snare they laid for me, and from the traps of the evildoers.
10Let the wicked fall into their own nets together, until I pass over.
Chapter 142
David composed this psalm while hiding from Saul in a cave, at which time he had cut off the corner of Saul's garment (to prove that he was able to kill him but did not wish to do so). He declared, "Where can I turn, and where can I run? All I have is to cry out to You!"
1A maskil by David, when he was in the cave, a prayer.
2With my voice I will cry out to the Lord; with my voice I will call to the Lord in supplication.
3I will pour out my plea before Him; I will declare my distress in His presence.
4When my spirit is faint within me, You know my path. In the way in which I walk, they have hidden a snare for me.
5Look to my right and see, there is none that will know me; every escape is lost to me. No man cares for my soul.
6I cried out to You, O Lord; I said, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
7Listen to my song of prayer, for I have been brought very low. Deliver me from my pursuers, for they are too mighty for me.
8Release my soul from confinement, so that it may acknowledge Your Name. Because of me, the righteous will crown [You] when You will deal graciously with me.
Chapter 143
1A psalm by David. O Lord, hear my prayer, lend Your ear to my supplications. With Your faithfulness answer me, and with Your righteousness.
2Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for no living being would be vindicated before You.
3For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has set me down in dark places, like those who are eternally dead.
4Then my spirit became faint within me; my heart was dismayed within me.
5I remembered the days of old; I meditated on all Your deeds; I spoke of Your handiwork.
6I spread out my hands to You; like a languishing land my soul yearns after You, Selah.
7Answer me soon, O Lord, my spirit is spent; hide not Your face from me, lest I become like those who descend into the pit.
8Let me hear Your kindness in the morning, for have I trusted in You. Let me know the way in which I should walk, for to You I have lifted my soul.
9Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord. I have concealed [my troubles from all, save] You.
10Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Let Your good spirit lead me in an even path.
11For the sake of Your Name, O Lord, give me life; in Your righteousness, take my soul out of distress.
12And in Your kindness, cut off my enemies and obliterate all those who oppress my soul, for I am Your servant.
Chapter 144
After triumphing in all his wars, David composed this psalm in praise of God.
1By David. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, Who trains my hands for battle and my fingers for war.
2My source of kindness and my fortress, my high tower and my rescuer, my shield, in Whom I take refuge; it is He Who makes my people submit to me.
3O Lord, what is man that You have recognized him; the son of a mortal, that You are mindful of him?
4Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.
5O Lord, incline Your heavens and descend; touch the mountains and they will become vapor.
6Flash one bolt of lightning and You will scatter them; send out Your arrows and You will confound them.
7Stretch forth Your hands from on high, rescue me and deliver me out of many waters, from the hand of strangers,
8whose mouth speaks deceit and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9God, I will sing a new song to You, I will play to You upon a harp of ten strings.
10He who gives victory to kings, He will rescue David, His servant, from the evil sword.
11Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of strangers, whose mouth speaks deceit and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
12For our sons are like plants, brought up to manliness in their youth; our daughters are like cornerstones, fashioned after the fashion of a palace.
13Our storehouses are full, overflowing with all manner of food; our sheep increase by the thousands, growing by the tens of thousands in our open fields.
14Our leaders bear the heaviest burden; there is none who break through, nor is there bad report, nor outcry in our streets.
15Happy is the nation for whom this is so. Happy is that nation whose God is the Lord.
Tehillim Ohel Yoseph Yitzchok,
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