Psalms 140:4
“Yahweh, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet.”
What does Psalms 140:4 mean?
The psalmist is crying out for protection from people who actively want to harm him, both through direct violence and through sneaky tactics meant to make him stumble. This isn't abstract worry, but real fear of enemies who are plotting against him. By asking God to "keep" and "preserve" him, he's acknowledging that he can't protect himself alone and needs divine help. This prayer speaks to anyone who feels threatened or undermined, whether by obvious hostility or the more subtle ways people try to sabotage us.