< Psalms 141 >
1 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!
A Psalm of David. LORD, I cry to thee: make haste to me; give ear to my voice, when I cry to thee.
2 May my prayer be like incense before you, my uplifted hands like an evening offering.
Let my prayer be set forth before thee [as] incense; [and] the lifting up of my hands [as] the evening sacrifice.
3 Lord, make sure I don't say anything I shouldn't—keep a watch over my conversations.
Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
4 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.
Incline not my heart to [any] evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
5 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.
Let 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.
6 They shall be thrown down by the power of the rock that judges them, and then they will recognize what I said was true!
When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
7 Just as the earth is broken up by the plough, so shall their bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol. (Sheol )
Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth [wood] upon the earth. (Sheol )
8 But I'm looking to you, Lord God, for I find protection in you. Don't let me die!
But my eyes [are] to thee, O GOD the LORD: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.
9 Keep me safe from the traps they have set to catch me, from the snares of evil people.
Keep me from the snare [which] they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
10 Let them fall into their own traps while I pass by unharmed.
Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst I escape.