< Psalms 141 >
1 A psalm of David. Lord, I call to you: hasten, to me, attend to my voice, when I call to you.
A Psalm. Of David. Lord, I have made my cry to you; come to me quickly; give ear to my voice, when it goes up to you.
2 Let my prayer be presented as incense before you, and my uplifted hands as the evening meal-offering.
Let my prayer be ordered before you like a sweet smell; and let the lifting up of my hands be like the evening offering.
3 Set, O Lord, a watch on my mouth, put a guard on the door of my lips.
O Lord, keep a watch over my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
4 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.
Keep my heart from desiring any evil thing, or from taking part in the sins of the evil-doers with men who do wrong: and let me have no part in their good things.
5 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.
Let the upright give me punishment; and let the god-fearing man put me in the right way; but I will not let the oil of sinners come on my head: when they do evil I will give myself to prayer.
6 Abandoned they are to the hands of their judges: they shall learn that my words are true.
When destruction comes to their judges by the side of the rock, they will give ear to my words, for they are sweet.
7 Like stones on a country road cleft and broken so lie our bones scattered for Death to devour. (Sheol )
Our bones are broken up at the mouth of the underworld, as the earth is broken by the plough. (Sheol )
8 But my eyes are turned towards you, O Lord. Do not pour out my life, for in you I take refuge.
But my eyes are turned to you, O Lord God: my hope is in you; let not my soul be given up to death.
9 Keep me safe from the trap they have laid for me, from the snares of the workers of trouble.
Keep me from the net which they have put down for me, and from the designs of the workers of evil.
10 Into their own nets let wicked people fall; while I pass by in safety.
Let the sinners be taken in the nets which they themselves have put down, while I go free.