Psalms 141

Protection from Sin and Sinners

A psalm of David.

1 Lord, I call on you; hurry to help me.

Listen to my voice when I call on you.  * 141:1 Ps 22:19; 38:22; 70:5

2 May my prayer be set before you as incense,  * 141:2 Ex 30:8

the raising of my hands as the evening offering.  * 141:2 Lk 1:10; Rv 5:8; 8:3–4

3 Lord, set up a guard for my mouth;

keep watch at the door of my lips.  * 141:3 Ps 34:13; 39:1; Pr 13:3; Mc 7:5

4 Do not let my heart turn to any evil thing

or perform wicked acts with evildoers.

Do not let me feast on their delicacies.  * 141:4 Ps 119:36; Pr 23:6; Is 32:6

5 Let the righteous one strike me —

it is an act of faithful love;

let him rebuke me —

it is oil for my head;

let me  * 141:5 Lit my head not refuse it.  * 141:5 Ec 7:5; Gl 6:1

Even now my prayer is against

the evil acts of the wicked.  * 141:5 Lit of them,* 141:5 Ps 109:4

6 When their rulers  * 141:6 Or judges will be thrown off

the sides of a cliff,

the people  * 141:6 Lit cliff, and they will listen to my words,

for they are pleasing.  * 141:6 2Ch 25:12

7 As when one plows and breaks up the soil,

turning up rocks,

so our  * 141:7 DSS reads my; some LXX mss, Syr read their bones have been scattered

at the mouth of Sheol.  * 141:7 Ps 53:5; 88:3–5

8 But my eyes look to you, Lord, my Lord.

I seek refuge in you; do not let me die.  * 141:8 Or not pour out my life,* 141:8 Ps 7:1; 57:1; 144:2

9 Protect me from the trap they have set for me,

and from the snares of evildoers.  * 141:9 Ps 38:12; 140:5

10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,

while I pass by safely.  * 141:10 Ps 7:15; 35:8; 57:6