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.
A psalm of David. Lord, I call to you: hasten, to me, attend to my voice, when I call to you.
2 May my prayer be valued as incense before thee, the lifting up of my hands, as the evening offering.
Let my prayer be presented as incense before you, and my uplifted hands as the evening meal-offering.
3 Set, O Lord, a watch unto my mouth: keep a guard at the door of my lips.
Set, O Lord, a watch on my mouth, put a guard on 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.
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 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.
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 Are their judges fallen down through means of a rock: then will they listen to my words; for they are pleasant.
Abandoned they are to the hands of their judges: they shall learn that my words are true.
7 As when one cutteth in and splitteth open the earth: so are our bones scattered for the mouth of the grave. (Sheol h7585)
Like stones on a country road cleft and broken so lie our bones scattered for Death to devour. (Sheol h7585)
8 For unto thee, O Eternal Lord, are my eyes directed; in thee do I trust: pour not out my life.
But my eyes are turned towards you, O Lord. Do not pour out my life, for in you I take refuge.
9 Guard me from the power of the snare which they have laid for me, and the traps of the wrong-doers.
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, altogether—while I pass safely by.
Into their own nets let wicked people fall; while I pass by in safety.
