Prayer

“[Love for Enemies] “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:43-45 NIV Psalm 140 Psalm 140[a]     For the director of music. A psalm of David.  1 Rescue me, LORD, from evildoers;    protect me from the violent, 2 who devise evil plans in their hearts    and stir up war every day. 3 They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s;    the poison of vipers is on their lips.[b]  4 Keep me safe, LORD, from the hands of the wicked;    protect me from the violent,    who devise ways to trip my feet. 5 The arrogant have hidden a snare for me;    they have spread out the cords of their net    and have set traps for me along my path.  6 I say to the LORD, “You are my God.”    Hear, LORD, my cry for mercy. 7 Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer,    you shield my head in the day of battle. 8 Do not grant the wicked their desires, LORD;    do not let their plans succeed.  9 Those who surround me proudly rear their heads;    may the mischief of their lips engulf them. 10 May burning coals fall on them;    may they be thrown into the fire,    into miry pits, never to rise. Footnotes: Psalm 140:1 In Hebrew texts 140:1-13 is numbered 140:2-14. Psalm 140:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 8.