Psalms 140 in the early church

63 passages quote, allude to, or echo Psalms 140, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13

Psalms 140:1

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence,
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 140:1 (139:2 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.3 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 140:1 (139:2 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.11 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 140:1–13 (139:1-Ps LXX)	Psalm 139 · Apollinaris of Laodicea	quotation, high confidence	uncertain (fourth to sixth century)
Ps 140:1 (139:2 LXX)	Sermon 42.3 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 391-430
Ps 140:1 (139:2 Vulg.)	Sermon 297.9 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 391-430

Psalms 140:2

who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 140:2 (139:3 LXX)	PG 12:1657 (Ps 138–139 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 140:2 (139:3 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.3 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 140:2 (139:3 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.4 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367

Psalms 140:3

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

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 140:3 (139:4 LXX)	Epistle of the Apostles 35 · Anonymous	quotation, high confidence	ca. 140-170
Ps 140:3 (139:4 LXX)	Dialogue with Trypho 27.3 · Justin Martyr	quotation, high confidence	ca. 155–160
Ps 140:3 (139:4 LXX)	PG 12:1657 (Ps 138–139 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 140:3 (139:4 LXX)	PG 12:1669 (Ps 145–146 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 140:3 (139:4 LXX)	Commentary on John 6.123 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 230–248
Ps 140:3 (139:4 LXX)	Commentary on Romans 3.2 · Origen	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406)
Ps 140:3 (139:4 LXX)	Tricennial Oration (In Praise of Constantine) 9.8 · Eusebius of Caesarea	echo, low confidence	335–336
Ps 140:3	Demonstration 14.12 · Aphrahat	allusion, medium confidence	337-345
Ps 140:3	Demonstration 14.37 · Aphrahat	allusion, medium confidence	337-345
Ps 140:3 (139:4 LXX)	Catechetical Lecture 16.6 · Cyril of Jerusalem	echo, medium confidence	ca. 350
Ps 140:3 (139:4 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.4 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 140:3 (139:4 LXX)	Oration 2.38 · Gregory of Nazianzus	allusion, high confidence	ca. 362–383
Ps 140:3 (139:4 Vulg.)	Commentary on Romans 3:15 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
Ps 140:3 (139:4 LXX)	On the Trinity 6 · Faustinus	quotation, high confidence	ca. 380–384
Ps 140:3 (139:4 LXX)	Homilies on Matthew 68.4 · John Chrysostom	quotation, high confidence	ca. 390
Ps 140:3 (139:4 Vulg.)	Letters 1.2 · Paulinus of Nola	quotation, high confidence	ca. 394–413
Ps 140:3 (139:4 Vulg.)	Letters 38.4 · Paulinus of Nola	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 394–413
Ps 140:3 (139:4 LXX)	Celestine, ACO I.2, letter 2.9 · Celestine I, bishop of Rome	allusion, medium confidence	430-432
Ps 140:3 (139:4 LXX)	Letter 1 (= Leo, Ep. 22), chapter 2 · Flavian of Constantinople	quotation, high confidence	448-449

Psalms 140:4

Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked. Keep me safe from men of violence who scheme to make me stumble.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 140:4 (139:5 LXX)	PG 12:1657 (Ps 138–139 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 140:4 (139:5 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.5 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 140:4 (139:5 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.6 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 140:4 (139:5 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.11 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367

Psalms 140:5

The proud hide a snare for me; the cords of their net are spread along the path, and lures are set out for me. Selah
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 140:5 (139:6 LXX)	Life of Antony 23 · Athanasius of Alexandria	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 357–360
Ps 140:5 (139:6 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.6 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 140:5 (139:6 LXX)	Letter 106.83 · Jerome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 370–419
Ps 140:5 (139:6 Vulg.)	Sermon 67.6 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 391-430
Ps 140:5 (139:6 Vulg.)	Sermon 142.1 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 391-430
Ps 140:5 (139:6 Vulg.)	Sermon 306.2 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 391-430
Ps 140:5 (139:6 Vulg.)	Confessions 6.21 · Augustine of Hippo	echo, low confidence	ca. 397–401
Ps 140:5 (139:6 Vulg.)	Commentary on Jeremiah 4.3 · Jerome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 414-419

Psalms 140:6

I say to the LORD, “You are my God.” Hear, O LORD, my cry for help.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 140:6 (139:7 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.8 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 140:6 (139:7 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.9 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367

Psalms 140:7

O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You shield my head in the day of battle.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 140:7 (139:8 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.8 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 140:7 (139:8 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.10 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 140:7 (139:8 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.11 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 140:7 (139:8 Vulg.)	Letters 32.23 · Paulinus of Nola	quotation, high confidence	ca. 394–413

Psalms 140:8

Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not promote their evil plans, lest they be exalted. Selah
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 140:8 (139:9 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.8 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 140:8 (139:9 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.12 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 140:8 (139:9 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.13 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 140:8 (139:9 LXX)	On the Proceedings of Pelagius 7 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, medium confidence	417
Ps 140:8 (139:9 Vulg.)	On the Gift of Perseverance 6 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 428/429
Ps 140:8 (139:9 Vulg.)	Part 1, chapter 3 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	ca. 445-450

Psalms 140:9

May the heads of those who surround me be covered in the trouble their lips have caused.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 140:9 (139:10 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.14 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 140:9 (139:10 LXX)	The Conferences 7.21 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 426–429

Psalms 140:10

May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 140:10 (139:11 LXX)	PG 12:1657 (Ps 138–139 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 140:10 (139:11 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.14 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367

Psalms 140:11

May no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 140:11 (139:12 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.15 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 140:11 (139:12 LXX)	Apostolic Constitutions 7.4.2 · Anonymous	quotation, high confidence	ca. 380

Psalms 140:12

I know that the LORD upholds justice for the poor and defends the cause of the needy.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 140:12 (139:13 LXX)	PG 12:1657 (Ps 138–139 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 140:12 (139:13 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.16 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367

Psalms 140:13

Surely the righteous will praise Your name; the upright will dwell in Your presence.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 140:13 (139:14 LXX)	PG 12:1659 (Ps 139–141 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 140:13 (139:14 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 139.17 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 140:13 (139:14 LXX)	Letter 106.83 · Jerome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 370–419
Ps 140:13 (139:14 LXX)	Tractates on Matthew 3.6 · Chromatius of Aquileia	quotation, high confidence	ca. 388–407