< Psalms 141 >
1 “A psalm of David.” O Lord, I call thee, hasten unto me: give ear unto my voice, when I call unto thee.
“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.” I cry to thee, O LORD! make haste unto me! Give ear to my voice, when I cry unto thee!
2 May my prayer be valued as incense before thee, the lifting up of my hands, as the evening offering.
Let my prayer come before thee as incense, And the lifting-up of my hands, as the evening sacrifice!
3 Set, O Lord, a watch unto my mouth: keep a guard at the door of my lips.
Set a watch, O LORD! before my mouth; Guard the door of my lips!
4 Permit not my heart to incline after any evil thing, to practise deeds in wickedness with men that are doers of wrong: and let me not eat of their dainties.
Let not my heart incline to any evil thing; Let me not practise wickedness with the doers of iniquity, And let me not eat of their delicacies!
5 If the righteous strike me, it is a kindness; and if he reprove me, it is [as] oil poured on the head, my head shall not refuse it; for yet my prayer also [is offered] in their sufferings.
Let the righteous smite me, —it shall be a kindness; Let him reprove me, and it shall be oil for my head; Let him do it again, and my head shall not refuse it; But now I pray against their wickedness!
6 Are their judges fallen down through means of a rock: then will they listen to my words; for they are pleasant.
When their judges are hurled over the side of the rock, They shall hear how pleasant are my words.
7 As when one cutteth in and splitteth open the earth: so are our bones scattered for the mouth of the grave. (Sheol )
So are our bones scattered at the mouth of the underworld, As when one furroweth and ploweth up the land. (Sheol )
8 For unto thee, O Eternal Lord, are my eyes directed; in thee do I trust: pour not out my life.
But to thee do my eyes look, O Lord Jehovah! In thee is my trust; Let not my life be poured out!
9 Guard me from the power of the snare which they have laid for me, and the traps of the wrong-doers.
Preserve me from the snares which they have laid for me, And from the nets of evil-doers!
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, altogether—while I pass safely by.
Let the wicked fall together into their own traps, Whilst I make my escape!