< Psalms 141 >
1 [A Psalm by David.] YHWH, I have called on you. Come to me quickly. Listen to my voice when I call to you.
“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 Let my prayer be set before you like incense; the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice.
Let my prayer come before thee as incense, And the lifting-up of my hands, as the evening sacrifice!
3 Set a watch, YHWH, before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips.
Set a watch, O LORD! before my mouth; Guard 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.
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 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.
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 Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock. They will hear my words, for they are well spoken.
When their judges are hurled over the side of the rock, They shall hear how pleasant are my words.
7 "As when one plows and breaks up the earth, our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol." (Sheol )
So are our bones scattered at the mouth of the underworld, As when one furroweth and ploweth up the land. (Sheol )
8 For my eyes are on you, YHWH. In you, I take refuge. Do not leave my soul destitute.
But to thee do my eyes look, O Lord Jehovah! In thee is my trust; Let not my life be poured out!
9 Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, from the traps of evildoers.
Preserve me from the snares which they have laid for me, And from the nets of evil-doers!
10 Let the wicked fall together into their own nets, while I pass by.
Let the wicked fall together into their own traps, Whilst I make my escape!