Psalms 141
1 LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
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 set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
May my prayer be like incense before you, my uplifted hands like an evening offering.
3 Set a watch, O Lord, before 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 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
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 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.
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 their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear 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 scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth. (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 mine eyes are unto thee, O God the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.
But I'm looking to you, Lord God, for I find protection in you. Don't let me die!
9 Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
Keep me safe from the traps they have set to catch me, from the snares of evil people.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.
Let them fall into their own traps while I pass by unharmed.
