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Psalm chapter 141

English Standard Version

1O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! 2Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! 3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! 4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies! 5 Let a righteous man strike me — it is a kindness; let him rebuke me — it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds. 6When their judges are thrown over the cliff, then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant. 7As when one plows and breaks up the earth, so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol. 8But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless! 9Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me and from the snares of evildoers! 10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely.
New International Version

1A psalm of David. I call to you, Lord, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you.
2May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. 3Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.
4Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies.
5Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers. 6Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs, and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
7They will say, "As one plows and breaks up the earth, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave." 8But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death. 9Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers, from the snares they have laid for me. 10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.
New American Standard Bible

1Lord, I call upon You; hurry to me! Listen to my voice when I call to You! 2May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The raising of my hands as the evening offering. 3Set a guard, Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. 4Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice deeds of wickedness With people who do wrong; And may I not taste their delicacies. 5May the righteous strike me with mercy and discipline me; It is oil for the head; My head shall not refuse it, For my prayer is still against their evil deeds. 6Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock, And they hear my words, for they are pleasant. 7As when one plows and breaks open the earth, Our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol. 8For my eyes are toward You, God, the Lord; In You I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless. 9Keep me from the jaws of the trap which they have set for me, And from the snares of those who do wrong. 10May the wicked fall into their own nets, While I pass by safely.
Christian Standard Bible

1A psalm of David. Lord, I call on you; hurry to help me. Listen to my voice when I call on you.
2May my prayer be set before you as incense, the raising of my hands as the evening offering. 3 Lord, set up a guard for my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips. 4Do not let my heart turn to any evil thing or perform wicked acts with men who commit sin. Do not let me feast on their delicacies. 5Let the righteous one strike me— it is an act of faithful love; let him rebuke me— it is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. Even now my prayer is against the evil acts of the wicked.
6When their rulers will be thrown off the sides of a cliff, the people will listen to my words, for they are pleasing.
7As when one plows and breaks up the soil, turning up rocks, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol. 8But my eyes look to you, Lord, my Lord. I seek refuge in you; do not let me die. 9Protect me from the trap they have set for me, and from the snares of evildoers. 10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely.
New Living Translation

1O Lord, I am calling to you. Please hurry! Listen when I cry to you for help! 2Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering.
3Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips. 4Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong.
5Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they correct me, it is soothing medicine. Don’t let me refuse it. But I pray constantly against the wicked and their deeds. 6When their leaders are thrown down from a cliff, the wicked will listen to my words and find them true. 7Like rocks brought up by a plow, the bones of the wicked will lie scattered without burial.
8I look to you for help, O Sovereign Lord. You are my refuge; don’t let them kill me. 9Keep me from the traps they have set for me, from the snares of those who do wrong. 10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, but let me escape.
King James Version

1Psalm of David. Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
2Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
3Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
4Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
5Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
6When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
7Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.
8But mine eyes are unto thee, O God the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.
9Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.
New King James Version

1{A Psalm of David.} Lord, I cry out to You; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. 2Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. 3Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. 4Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice wicked works With men who work iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies. 5 Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked. 6Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the cliff, And they hear my words, for they are sweet. 7Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave, As when one plows and breaks up the earth. 8But my eyes are upon You, O God the Lord; In You I take refuge; Do not leave my soul destitute. 9Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, And from the traps of the workers of iniquity. 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, While I escape safely.

What does Psalm chapter 141 mean?

David hopes that his prayer will be pleasing to the Lord. In fact, David hopes that his sincere worship will please God as much as offerings of incense or sacrifice (Psalm 141:1–2).

As part of his devotion, David asks for God's help in avoiding sin and temptation (Psalm 143:1–2). Unwise words (James 3:2), internal temptation (James 1:14), the influence of ungodly people (Proverbs 13:20), and the lures of worldly pleasure (Proverbs 6:24–25; 23:6–7; 1 John 2:16) are moral threats. In humility, David asks the Lord for protection against those things, but also against himself (1 Corinthians 10:13), so that he will not fall to such temptations (Psalm 141:3–4).

David recognizes that the Lord's help comes in many ways, including suggestions from godly advisors (Proverbs 12:1; 13:18). Being corrected by a wise person (Proverbs 1:7) is a blessing. Rather than following the natural urge to ignore discipline (Hebrews 12:11), David wants to be open to the Lord's instructions (Psalm 141:5).

Verses 6 and 7 contain Hebrew phrasing which scholars find extremely difficult to translate. The literal words are plain. What's difficult is knowing if David is speaking about a future event, a common occurrence, or a past incident. Likewise, it's difficult to tell if some of the words are spoken by these "judges" or someone else. Most interpretations include the general idea of vindication. That is, that David expects that time will prove his message and faith to be accurate (Psalm 141:6–7).

Despite what may happen, David is confident. In faith, he asks to be spared from the schemes and traps of his enemies. Further, David hopes that those who conspire against him will suffer directly from their own sinful choices (Psalm 141:8–10).
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