< Psalms 141 >
1 [A Psalm by David.] Jehovah, I have called on you. Come to me quickly. Listen to my voice when I call to you.
A Psalm of David. O Lord, I have cried out to you, hear me. Attend to my voice, when I cry out to you.
2 Let my prayer be set before you like incense; the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice.
Let my prayer be guided like incense in your sight: the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice.
3 Set a watch, Jehovah, before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips.
O Lord, station a guard over my mouth and a door enclosing my lips.
4 Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity. Do not let me eat of their delicacies.
Do not turn aside my heart to words of malice, to making excuses for sins, with men who work iniquity; and I will not communicate, even with the best of them.
5 Let the righteous strike me, it is kindness; let him reprove me, it is like oil on the head; do not let my head refuse it; Yet my prayer is always against evil deeds.
The just one will correct me with mercy, and he will rebuke me. But do not allow the oil of the sinner to fatten my head. For my prayer will still be toward their good will.
6 Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock. They will hear my words, for they are well spoken.
Their judges have been engulfed, joined to the rocks. They will hear my words, which have prevailed,
7 "As when one plows and breaks up the earth, our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol." (Sheol )
as when the lava of the earth has erupted above ground. Our bones have been scattered beside Hell. (Sheol )
8 For my eyes are on you, Jehovah. In you, I take refuge. Do not leave my soul destitute.
For Lord, O Lord, my eyes look to you. In you, I have hoped. Do not take away my soul.
9 Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, from the traps of evildoers.
Protect me from the snare that they have set up for me and from the scandals of those who work iniquity.
10 Let the wicked fall together into their own nets, while I pass by.
The sinners will fall into his net. I am alone, until I pass over.