< Psalms 141 >
1 Yahweh, I call out to you; [please] help me quickly! Listen to me when I am calling to you.
I have cried to the, O Lord, hear me: hearken to my voice, when I cry to thee.
2 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].
Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight; the lifting up of my hands, as evening sacrifice.
3 Yahweh, do not allow me to say [MTY] things that are wrong; guard my lips.
Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth: and a door round about my lips.
4 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!
Incline not my heart to evil words; to make excuses in sins. With men that work iniquity: and I will not communicate with the choicest of them.
5 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].
The just shall correct me in mercy, and shall reprove me: but let not the oil of the sinner fatten my head. For my prayer also shall still be against the things with which they are well pleased:
6 When their rulers are thrown down from the top of rocky cliffs, people will know that what you, Yahweh, said [about them] is true.
Their judges falling upon the rock have been swallowed up. They shall hear my words, for they have prevailed:
7 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 )
As when the thickness of the earth is broken up upon the ground: Our bones are scattered by the side of hell. (Sheol )
8 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]!
But o to thee, O Lord, Lord, are my eyes: in thee have I put my trust, take not away my soul.
9 [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.
Keep me from the snare, which they have laid for me, and from the stumblingblocks of them that work iniquity.
10 I desire that wicked [people] will fall into the traps they have set [to catch me] while I escape [from them].
The wicked shall fall in his net: I am alone until I pass.