Psalm 140:3

Translations

Modern

They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah

Traditional

They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.

Literal

They sharpen their tongues like a snake; the venom of a viper is under their lips. Selah

Latin

Acuerunt linguas suas sicut serpentis; venenum aspidum sub labiis eorum.

Original

Hebrew

English

They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah

Notes

Psalms 140:3

snakes … vipers: These creatures portray the wicked as very corrupt people (see Proverbs 23:32; Isaiah 14:29; Romans 3:13).

Psalms 140:1–3

The psalmist prays for the Lord to rescue him from wicked people.

Psalms 140:1–13

In this personal lament, the psalmist describes God's enemies and their evil plans. He prays for the Lord's protection and rescue, trusting in God's strength and justice. He predicts that fire will judge the evil (Psalm 140:9–11) and that he will be proven right and live in the Lord's presence (140:13).

Psalms 138:1–145:21

In this final group of psalms of David, psalms of praise and wisdom (Psalms 138–139, 145) form a frame around five psalms of lament (Psalms 140–144).

Theme notes and profiles

David

Related verses

Psalm 58:4
Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like a cobra that shuts its ears,
2 Corinthians 11:3
I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.
Romans 3:13–14
“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.”
Proverbs 23:32
In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.
Psalm 57:4
My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts—with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
Isaiah 59:3–5
For your hands are stained with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters injustice.
Jeremiah 9:3
“They bend their tongues like bows; lies prevail over truth in the land. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not take Me into account,” declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 9:5
Each one betrays his friend; no one tells the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they wear themselves out committing iniquity.
Matthew 12:34
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
James 3:6–8
The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Psalm 52:2–3
Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit.
Genesis 3:13
Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied, “and I ate.”

People

Selah: A musical or liturgical term of uncertain meaning

Glossary

Imprecatory Psalms Music Persecution Psalms, Book of Serpent

Topics

Adder Asp: (Venom of), of the Speech of the Wicked Adder: A Venomous Serpent Afflictions and Adversities: Prayer In Asp: Venom of, Illustrates the Speech of the Wicked Malice: General Scriptures Concerning Serpent: Venom of Serpents: (Sharp Tongue of) Malice of the Wicked Slander is Venomous Slander of David, by his Enemies Speaking: Evil

Psalm 140:3

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