Psalms 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)

De 32:27; 2Sa 15:31; Job 5:12,13; Ps 27:12; Ps 94:20,21

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).