Scripture Verse

Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man; preserve me from the violent man. Psalm 140:1

Introduction

Words: From The Psal­ter (Pitts­burgh, Penn­syl­van­ia: Unit­ed Pres­by­te­ri­an Board of Pub­li­ca­tion, 1912), num­ber 385.

Music: Mu­nich Neu­ver­mehrt­es Ge­sang­buch (Mein­ing­en, Ger­ma­ny: 1693). Har­mo­ny by Fe­lix Men­dels­sohn, 1847 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847)

Lyrics

Deliver me from evil, preserve me, Lord, from wrong;
Against the foes that gather be Thou my helper strong;
From those who plot to hurt me and spread the treacherous snare,
Preserve me, Lord, and keep me safeguarded in Thy care.

O Lord, I have confessed Thee to be my God alone;
O hear my supplication, and be Thy mercy shown;
O God the Lord, my Sav­ior, my shield amid the strife,
Let not the wicked triumph who plot against my life.

Let evil smite the evil, and cause their overthrow;
The needy and afflicted the Lord will help, I know;
Thy saints, redeemed from evil, their thanks to Thee shall give;
The righteous and the upright shall in Thy presence live.