A Prayer for When Words Become Weapons.

לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃

Deliver me, O Lord , from evil men; preserve me from violent men,

חַלְּצֵ֣נִי יְ֭הוָה מֵאָדָ֣ם רָ֑ע מֵאִ֖ישׁ חֲמָסִ֣ים תִּנְצְרֵֽנִי׃

[2] who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually.

אֲשֶׁ֤ר חָשְׁב֣וּ רָע֣וֹת בְּלֵ֑ב כָּל־י֝֗וֹם יָג֥וּרוּ מִלְחָמֽוֹת׃

[3] They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's, and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah

שָֽׁנֲנ֣וּ לְשׁוֹנָם֮ כְּֽמוֹ־נָ֫חָ֥שׁ חֲמַ֥ת עַכְשׁ֑וּב תַּ֖חַת שְׂפָתֵ֣ימוֹ סֶֽלָה׃

[4] Guard me, O Lord , from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet.

שָׁמְרֵ֤נִי יְהוָ֨ה׀ מִ֘ידֵ֤י רָשָׁ֗ע מֵאִ֣ישׁ חֲמָסִ֣ים תִּנְצְרֵ֑נִי אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָ֝שְׁב֗וּ לִדְח֥וֹת פְּעָמָֽי׃

[5] The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net; beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah

טָֽמְנֽוּ־גֵאִ֨ים׀ פַּ֡ח לִ֗י וַחֲבָלִ֗ים פָּ֣רְשׂוּ רֶ֭שֶׁת לְיַד־מַעְגָּ֑ל מֹקְשִׁ֖ים שָֽׁתוּ־לִ֣י סֶֽלָה׃

[6] I say to the Lord , You are my God; give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O Lord !

אָמַ֣רְתִּי לַ֭יהוָה אֵ֣לִי אָ֑תָּה הַאֲזִ֥ינָה יְ֝הוָ֗ה ק֣וֹל תַּחֲנוּנָֽי׃

[7] O Lord , my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.

יְהוִֹ֣ה אֲ֭דֹנָי עֹ֣ז יְשׁוּעָתִ֑י סַכֹּ֥תָה לְ֝רֹאשִׁ֗י בְּי֣וֹם נָֽשֶׁק׃

[8] Grant not, O Lord , the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah

אַל־תִּתֵּ֣ן יְ֭הוָה מַאֲוַיֵּ֣י רָשָׁ֑ע זְמָמ֥וֹ אַל־תָּ֝פֵ֗ק יָר֥וּמוּ סֶֽלָה׃

[9] As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!

רֹ֥אשׁ מְסִבָּ֑י עֲמַ֖ל שְׂפָתֵ֣ימוֹ ׳יְכַסּוּמוֹ׳ ״יְכַסֵּֽמוֹ׃״

[10] Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise!

׳יָמִיטוּ׳ ״יִמּ֥וֹטוּ״ עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם גֶּֽחָ֫לִ֥ים בָּאֵ֥שׁ יַפִּלֵ֑ם בְּ֝מַהֲמֹר֗וֹת בַּֽל־יָקֽוּמוּ׃

[11] Let not the slanderer be established in the land; let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

אִ֥ישׁ לָשׁוֹן֮ בַּל־יִכּ֪וֹן בָּ֫אָ֥רֶץ אִישׁ־חָמָ֥ס רָ֑ע יְ֝צוּדֶ֗נּוּ לְמַדְחֵפֹֽת׃

[12] I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy.

׳יָדַעְתִּ׳ ״יָדַ֗עְתִּי״ כִּֽי־יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה יְ֭הוָה דִּ֣ין עָנִ֑י מִ֝שְׁפַּ֗ט אֶבְיֹנִֽים׃

[13] Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence.

אַ֣ךְ צַ֭דִּיקִים יוֹד֣וּ לִשְׁמֶ֑ךָ יֵשְׁב֥וּ יְ֝שָׁרִ֗ים אֶת־פָּנֶֽיךָ׃