Psalms 140:9

"LORD, don’t grant the desires of the wicked. Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud. Selah."

Key Reflection

This verse prays that God does not fulfill the wicked's ambitions and schemes, as such success would lead them to arrogance. The "Selah" encourages meditation on this divine protection against evil intentions.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

As for the head of those that compass me about -Luther renders this, “The calamity which my enemies design against me must fall upon their own heads.” The passage stands in contrast withPsalms 140:7: “Thou hast covered my head,” etc. As for his own head, it had been protected in the day of battle. In reference now to the heads of his enemies - of those that compassed him about - he prays that what they had designed for “his” head might come by a just retribution on their own. The phrase “compass me about” refers to his enemies as being numerous, and as surrounding him on every side. SeePsalms 40:12;Psalms 88:17;Psalms 109:3;Psalms 118:10-12.

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