Psalm 140

Psalm 140:1-10:
Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men;
Preserve me from violent men
Who devise evil things in their hearts;
They continually stir up wars.
They sharpen their tongues as a serpent;
Poison of a viper is under their lips. Selah.

Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
Preserve me from violent men
Who have purposed to trip up my feet.
The proud have hidden a trap for me, and cords;
They have spread a net by the wayside;
They have set snares for me. Selah.

I said to the Lord, “You are my God;
Give ear, O Lord, to the voice of my supplications.
“O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation,
You have covered my head in the day of battle.
“Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;
Do not promote his evil device, that they not be exalted. Selah.

“As for the head of those who surround me,
May the mischief of their lips cover them.
“May burning coals fall upon them;
May they be cast into the fire,
Into deep pits from which they cannot rise.

​David says that those who gossip about and slander others are evil, violent, devise evil, which means that the intention of their gossip and slander is to harm the subject of their speech; they stir up wars, which means strife, they have tongues as sharp as serpents, and that their speech is poisonous as a viper.

Fittingly, David asks God to turn the “mischief of their lips” back upon those who gossip about and slander others. David then asks God to lead them to repentance, which is the meaning of “May burning coals fall on their head.” Absent repentance, judgment awaits them all.
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