Psalms 141
1 A Psalm. Of David. Lord, I have made my cry to you; come to me quickly; give ear to my voice, when it goes up to you.
A psalm of David. Lord, I'm calling out to you! Please hurry up and help me! Please listen to me when I cry out to you!
2 Let my prayer be ordered before you like a sweet smell; and let the lifting up of my hands be like the evening offering.
May my prayer be like incense before you, my uplifted hands like an evening offering.
3 O Lord, keep a watch over my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
Lord, make sure I don't say anything I shouldn't—keep a watch over my conversations.
4 Keep my heart from desiring any evil thing, or from taking part in the sins of the evil-doers with men who do wrong: and let me have no part in their good things.
Don't let me think about evil things or take part in doing anything wrong with wicked people. I won't join in eating fancy food at their feasts.
5 Let the upright give me punishment; and let the god-fearing man put me in the right way; but I will not let the oil of sinners come on my head: when they do evil I will give myself to prayer.
Let a good person punish me in love—let them correct me. It will be like an anointing—I won't refuse it. But I still pray against those who do evil.
6 When destruction comes to their judges by the side of the rock, they will give ear to my words, for they are sweet.
They shall be thrown down by the power of the rock that judges them, and then they will recognize what I said was true!
7 Our bones are broken up at the mouth of the underworld, as the earth is broken by the plough. (Sheol h7585)
Just as the earth is broken up by the plough, so shall their bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
8 But my eyes are turned to you, O Lord God: my hope is in you; let not my soul be given up to death.
But I'm looking to you, Lord God, for I find protection in you. Don't let me die!
9 Keep me from the net which they have put down for me, and from the designs of the workers of evil.
Keep me safe from the traps they have set to catch me, from the snares of evil people.
10 Let the sinners be taken in the nets which they themselves have put down, while I go free.
Let them fall into their own traps while I pass by unharmed.
