Prayer for Protection against Evildoers
A psalm of David.
O Lord, I call to you; come quickly to my aid; listen to my plea when I call out to you.
May my prayer be like incense before you, the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice. Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not permit my heart to be drawn to evil. or to the pursuit of wicked deeds in the company of those who do evil; let me not share in their corruption. If a righteous man strikes me, I regard it as kindness; if he rebukes me, it is oil on my head.
But never let the oil of the wicked anoint my head, for my prayer is always opposed to their evil deeds.
When their leaders are flung down in stony places, they will learn that my prayers were heard. As the soil is shattered when the ground is plowed, so our bones are scattered at the mouth of the netherworld.
But my eyes are turned to you, O Lord God; in you I seek refuge; do not take my life away.
Keep me safe from the traps they have laid for me, from the snares of evildoers.
Let the wicked tumble into their own nets all together while I pass by unharmed.