< Psalms 141 >
1 Yahweh, I call out to you; [please] help me quickly! Listen to me when I am calling to you.
A Psalm of David. LORD, I have called Thee; make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I call unto 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 set forth as incense before Thee, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
3 Yahweh, do not allow me to say [MTY] things that are wrong; guard my lips.
Set a guard, O LORD, to my mouth; keep watch at the door of 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 any evil thing, to be occupied in deeds of wickedness with men that work iniquity; and let me not eat of their dainties.
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].
Let the righteous smite me in kindness, and correct me; oil so choice let not my head refuse; for still is my prayer because of their wickedness.
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 are thrown down by the sides of the rock; and they shall hear my words, that they are sweet.
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 one cleaveth and breaketh up the earth, our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth. (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]!
For mine eyes are unto Thee, O GOD the Lord; in Thee have I taken refuge, O pour not out 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 gins of the workers of iniquity.
10 I desire that wicked [people] will fall into the traps they have set [to catch me] while I escape [from them].
Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst I withal escape.