140:8 O Lord, do not let the wicked have their way! 1
Do not allow their 2 plan to succeed when they attack! 3 (Selah)
140:9 As for the heads of those who surround me –
may the harm done by 4 their lips overwhelm them!
1 tn Heb “do not grant the desires of the wicked.”
2 tn Heb “his.” The singular is used in a representative sense (see v. 1).
3 tn Heb “his plot do not promote, they rise up.” The translation understands the final verb as being an unmarked temporal clause. Another option is to revocalize the verb as a Hiphil and take the verb with the next verse, “those who surround me lift up [their] head,” which could refer to their proud attitude as they anticipate victory (see Ps 27:6).
4 tn Heb “harm of their lips.” The genitive here indicates the source or agent of the harm.