Continuing a chronological Bible study:
(Psalm 140:1) (To the chief musician, a Psalm of David) Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man; preserve me from the violent man.
David had been in hiding from Saul who wanted to kill him. He may have written this psalm at that time. He prayed to God to deliver him from the wicked and violent man, which surely meant Saul, and all wicked in general who were seeking to destroy him, specifically Saul's servants.
(2) Who imagine mischiefs in their hearts; continually are they gathered together for war.
The wicked plotted evil schemes against David, and they were gathered together for war against him and his small band of companions.
(3) They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.
The wicked used words as sharp, piercing, and poisonous, as the sting of poisonous snakes. They lied virulently about David. Selah meant a pause for reflection.
(4) Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man who has purposed to overthrow my goings.
David prayed that the Lord keep him from falling into the hands of the wicked and preserve him from violent men who sought to thwart his plans to prevent him from doing whatever he endeavored to do.
(5) The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set traps for me. Selah.
Proud, arrogant, and oppressive men had laid traps for him. As with cords and nets, they waylaid him as he went along his way. They set all sorts of traps for him.
(6) I said to the Lord, "You are my God; hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord."
David declared to the Lord that He was his God, his only help in time of trouble, and he asked the Lord to hear his prayers for help.
(7) O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle.
In God alone was David's salvation, and he acknowledged that the Lord had always protected him in battle.
(8) Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; further not his wicked device, lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
David prayed that the Lord not allow the wicked's evil plans to succeed. If they were able to prosper in their evil schemes, they would attribute it to their own skill, wisdom, and valor, and would pride themselves on their success.
(9) The head of those who compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
Let their evil plans and schemes fall upon the wicked's own heads, those who surrounded David.
(10) Let burning coals fall upon them; let them be cast into the fire, into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
This seems to be one of those times when God speaks of His righteous judgment through David. As David wished for the evil's schemes to fall on their own heads, God would have burning coals fall upon them as in Sodom and Gomorrah. He would have them cast into the fiery pits of hell that they never rise up in eternal life. Except by inspiration of God, I don't think David would have judged his enemies so reprobate that there was no hope of repentance in them, and they should be cast into hell forever.
(11) Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth; evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
Do not let the man with an evil tongue, one who speaks only lies and slanders, be successful in the world. Rather let evil come upon the wicked, another way of saying that his plans for evil fall upon his own head.
(12) I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, the right of the poor.
David had full faith and confidence that the Lord would always be on the side of the oppressed, the afflicted, and the wronged.
(13) Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence.
It's a confident statement that the righteous would have occasion to give thanks to the Lord because of what the Lord had done for them. They would dwell in His presence, guidance, and protection, on earth, and would dwell forever with Him in heaven.
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