Psalms 141

1 [A Psalm by David.] LORD, I have called on you. Come to me quickly. Listen to my voice when I call to you.

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 before you like incense; the lifting up of my hands like 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, LORD, 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 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.

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 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.

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 Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock. They will hear my words, for they are well spoken.

Abandoned they are to the hands of their judges: they shall learn that my words are true.

7 "As when one plows and breaks up the earth, our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol." (Sheol h7585)

Like stones on a country road cleft and broken so lie our bones scattered for Death to devour. (Sheol h7585)

8 For my eyes are on you, LORD. In you, I take refuge. Do not leave 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 snare which they have laid for me, from the traps of evildoers.

Keep me safe from the trap they have laid for me, from the snares of the workers of trouble.

10 Let the wicked fall together into their own nets, while I pass by.

Into their own nets let wicked people fall; while I pass by in safety.