Psalm 140

A prayer against sinful words, and deceitful flatterers.

Does this psalm differ from what you were expecting? Don't be confused. There are two systems for arranging the psalms: the Septuagint and the Masoretic. We use the Septuagint system here. In the Masoretic system, which is used in most modern Bible translations, this psalm is called Psalm 141, and the previous psalm is known as Psalm 140.

English (Douay-Rheims)

A psalm of David.

1 I have cried to thee, O Lord, hear me: hearken to my voice, when I cry to thee.
2 Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight; the lifting up of my hands, as evening sacrifice.
3 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth: and a door round about my lips.
4 Incline not my heart to evil words; to make excuses in sins. With men that work iniquity: and I will not communicate with the choicest of them.
5 The just man shall correct me in mercy, and shall reprove me: but let not the oil of the sinner fatten my head. For my prayer shall still be against the things with which they are well pleased: Let not the oil of the sinner, etc... That is, the flattery, or deceitful praise. -- Ibid. For my prayer, etc... So far from coveting their praises, who are never well pleased but with things that are evil; I shall continually pray to be preserved from such things as they are delighted with.
6 Their judges falling upon the rock have been swallowed up. They shall hear my words, for they have prevailed: Their judges, etc... Their rulers, or chiefs, quickly vanish and perish, like ships dashed against the rocks, and swallowed up by the waves. Let them then hear my words, for they are powerful and will prevail; or, as it is in the Hebrew, for they are sweet.
7 As when the thickness of the earth is broken up upon the ground: Our bones are scattered by the side of hell.
8 But to thee, O Lord, Lord, are my eyes: in thee have I put my trust, take not away my soul.
9 Keep me from the snare, which they have laid for me, and from the stumbling blocks of them that work iniquity.
10 The wicked shall fall in his net: I am alone until I pass. I am alone, etc... Singularly protected by the Almighty, until I pass all their nets and snares.

Old Testament first published 1609 by the English College at Douay
New Testament first published 1582 by the English College at Rheims
Revised and Annotated 1749 by Bishop Richard Challoner
Imprimatur. +James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, September 1, 1899

Latin (Clementine Vulgate)

1 Psalmus David.

Domine, clamavi ad te: exaudi me;
intende voci meæ, cum clamavero ad te.
2 Dirigatur oratio mea sicut incensum in conspectu tuo;
elevatio manuum mearum sacrificium vespertinum.
3 Pone, Domine, custodiam ori meo,
et ostium circumstantiæ labiis meis.
4 Non declines cor meum in verba malitiæ,
ad excusandas excusationes in peccatis;
cum hominibus operantibus iniquitatem,
et non communicabo cum electis eorum.
5 Corripiet me justus in misericordia, et increpabit me:
oleum autem peccatoris non impinguet caput meum.
Quoniam adhuc et oratio mea in beneplacitis eorum:
6 absorpti sunt juncti petræ judices eorum.
Audient verba mea, quoniam potuerunt.
7 Sicut crassitudo terræ erupta est super terram,
dissipata sunt ossa nostra secus infernum.
8 Quia ad te, Domine, Domine, oculi mei;
in te speravi, non auferas animam meam.
9 Custodi me a laqueo quem statuerunt mihi,
et a scandalis operantium iniquitatem.
10 Cadent in retiaculo ejus peccatores:
singulariter sum ego, donec transeam.

Transcribed as part of the Clementine Vulgate Project
Please notify the original transcriber (little.mouth@soon.com) of any errors in this Latin edition