1 To the chiefe Musician, A Psalme of Dauid. Deliuer me, O Lord, from the euill man: preserue me from the violent man.
2 Which imagine mischiefes in their heart: continually are they gathered together for warre.
3 They haue sharpned their tongues like a serpent: adders poison is vnder their lips. Selah.
4 Keepe me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked, preserue me from the violent man: who haue purposed to ouerthrow my goings.
5 The proude haue hid a snare for me and cords, they haue spread a net by the way side: they haue set grinnes for me. Selah.
6 I said vnto the Lord, Thou art my God: heare the voyce of my supplications, O Lord.
7 O God the Lord, the strength of my saluation: thou hast couered my head in the day of battell.
8 Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked deuice, lest they exalt themselues. Selah.
9 As for the head of those that compasse me about: let the mischiefe of their owne lips couer them.
10 Let burning coales fall vpon them, let them be cast into the fire: into deepe pits, that they rise not vp againe.
11 Let not an euill speaker bee established in the earth: euill shall hunt the violent man to ouerthrow him.
12 I know that the Lord will maintaine the cause of the afflicted: and the right of the poore.
13 Surely the righteous shall giue thankes vnto thy Name: the vpright shall dwell in thy presence.
David encourages himself in God. (1-7) He prays for, and prophesies the destruction of, his persecutors. (8-13)
1-7 The more danger appears, the more earnest we should be in prayer to God. All are safe whom the Lord protects. If he be for us, who can be against us? We should especially watch and pray, that the Lord would hold up our goings in his ways, that our footsteps slip not. God is as able to keep his people from secret fraud as from open force; and the experience we have had of his power and care, in dangers of one kind, may encourage us to depend upon him in other dangers.
8-13 Believers may pray that God would not grant the desires of the wicked, nor further their evil devices. False accusers will bring mischief upon themselves, even the burning coals of Divine vengeance. And surely the righteous shall dwell in God's presence, and give him thanks for evermore. This is true thanksgiving, even thanks-living: this use we should make of all our deliverances, we should serve God the more closely and cheerfully. Those who, though evil spoken of and ill-used by men, are righteous in the sight of God, being justified by the righteousness of Christ, which is imputed to them, and received by faith, as the effect of which, they live soberly and righteously; these give thanks to the Lord, for the righteousness whereby they are made righteous, and for every blessing of grace, and mercy of life.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.