1(For the one directing. Mizmor of Dovid)

2Deliver me, Hashem, from adam rah;
preserve me from ish chamasim (violent men);

3Which plan ra'ot (evils) in their lev;
kol yom they incite milchamot (wars).

4They have sharpened their leshonot like a nachash;
the venom of a spider is under their sfatayim (lips).
Selah

5Be shomer over me, Hashem, and keep me from the hands of the rashah;
protect me from ish chamasim,
whose scheme is to cause my steps to trip.

6The ge'im (proud, arrogant ones) ¹⁷⁴have hid a pach for me, and chavalim (cords, ropes);
they have spread a reshet (net) close by the path;
they have set mokshim (traps) for me.
Selah

7I said unto Hashem, Thou art Eli;
hear the kol tachanunai (voice of my supplications), Hashem.

8Hashem Adonoi, Oz Yeshu'ati (strength of my salvation),
Thou hast covered my rosh in the Yom Neshek (Day of Arms, Day of Battle).

9Grant not, Hashem, the desires of the rashah;
let not his plot succeed;
lest they exalt themselves.
Selah

10As for the rosh of those that surround me,
let the amal (trouble) of their own sfatayim (lips) cover them.

11Let burning coals fall upon them;
let them be cast into the eish;
into mahamorot (watery pits), that they rise not up again.

12Let not an ish lashon (idle talker, slanderer) be established in ha'aretz;
rah shall hunt down the ish chamas to overthrow him.

13I know that Hashem will maintain the din oni (cause of the poor),
and the mishpat evyonim (the right of the needy).

14Surely the tzaddikim shall give thanks unto Thy Shem;
the upright shall dwell in Thy presence.