Translations
Modern
May no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence.
Traditional
Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
Literal
A man of tongues, do not let him be established in the earth; a man of violence, may evil hunt him to overflowing!
Latin
Vir linguosus non dirigetur in terra; virum injustum mala capient in interitu.
Original
Hebrew
English
May no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence.
Notes
The psalmist prays for God’s judgment on the wicked.
In this personal lament, the psalmist describes God's enemies and their evil plans. He prays for the Lord's protection and rescue, trusting in God's strength and justice. He predicts that fire will judge the evil (Psalm 140:9–11) and that he will be proven right and live in the Lord's presence (140:13).
In this final group of psalms of David, psalms of praise and wisdom (Psalms 138–139, 145) form a frame around five psalms of lament (Psalms 140–144).
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