Psalms 141
1 Yhwh, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
A psalm of David. Lord, I call to you: hasten, to me, attend to my voice, when I call to you.
2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Let my prayer be presented as incense before you, and my uplifted hands as the evening meal-offering.
3 Set a watch, O Yhwh, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
Set, O Lord, a watch on my mouth, put a guard on the door of my lips.
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.
Incline not my heart to an evil matter, to busy myself in deeds of wickedness, in company with workers of evil: never may I partake of their dainties.
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.
A wound or reproof from a good person in kindness is oil which my head shall never refuse. In their misfortune my prayer is still with them.
6 When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
Abandoned they are to the hands of their judges: they shall learn that my words are true.
7 Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth. (Sheol h7585)
Like stones on a country road cleft and broken so lie our bones scattered for Death to devour. (Sheol h7585)
8 But mine eyes are unto thee, O Yhwh the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.
But my eyes are turned towards you, O Lord. Do not pour out my life, for in you I take refuge.
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 trap they have laid for me, from the snares of the workers of trouble.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.
Into their own nets let wicked people fall; while I pass by in safety.
