Psalms 141
1 A Psalm of David. LORD, I have called upon thee; make haste unto me: give ear unto my voice, when I call unto thee.
Yahweh, I call out to you; [please] help me quickly! Listen to me when I am calling to you.
2 Let my prayer be set forth as incense before thee; the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Accept my prayer as though it were incense [being burned as an offering] [SIM] to you. And accept me while I lift up my hands [to pray] to you like you accept sacrifices [that I offer to you each] evening [SIM].
3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my tips.
Yahweh, do not allow me to say [MTY] things that are wrong; guard my lips.
4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to be occupied in deeds of wickedness with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
Prevent me from wanting to do anything that is wrong, and from joining with wicked men when they want to do evil deeds [DOU]. Do not [even] allow me to share in eating delightful food with them!
5 Let the righteous smite me, [it shall be] a kindness; and let him reprove me, [it shall be as] oil upon the head; let not my head refuse it: for even in their wickedness shall my prayer continue.
It is all right if righteous people strike/hit me or rebuke me because they are trying to act kindly toward me [to teach me to do what is right], but I do not want wicked [people] to [honor me by] anointing my head with [olive] oil; I am always praying [that you will punish them because of] the wicked deeds [that they do].
6 Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock; and they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
When their rulers are thrown down from the top of rocky cliffs, people will know that what you, Yahweh, said [about them] is true.
7 As when one ploweth and cleaveth the earth, our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth. (Sheol h7585)
Like a log that is split and cut into small pieces [SIM], their shattered bones will be scattered [on the ground] near [other] graves. (Sheol h7585)
8 For mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee do I put my trust; leave not my soul destitute.
But Yahweh God, I [continue to] ask you [to help me]. I ask you to protect me; do not allow me to (die/be killed) [now]!
9 Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, and from the gins of the workers of iniquity.
[It is as though] people have set traps for me; protect me from falling into those traps, [It is as though] they have spread nets to catch me; keep me from being caught in those nets.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.
I desire that wicked [people] will fall into the traps they have set [to catch me] while I escape [from them].
