1I call out to you, LORD. Come quickly to help me. Listen to me when I call out to you.2May my prayer come to you like the sweet smell of incense. When I lift up my hands in prayer, may it be like the evening sacrifice.3LORD, guard my mouth. Keep watch over the door of my lips.4Don’t let my heart be drawn to what is evil. Don’t let me join with people who do evil. Don’t let me eat their fancy food.5If a godly person hit me, it would be an act of kindness. If they would correct me, it would be like pouring olive oil on my head. I wouldn’t say no to it. I will always pray against the things that sinful people do.6When their rulers are thrown down from the rocky cliffs, those evil people will realise that my words were true.7They will say, ‘As clumps of dirt are left from ploughing up the ground, so our bones will be scattered near an open grave.’8But LORD and King, I keep looking to you for help. I go to you for safety. Don’t let me die.9Keep me from the traps of those who do evil. Save me from the traps they have set for me.10Let evil people fall into their own nets. But let me go safely on my way.
Psalm 141
English Standard Version
Give Ear to My Voice
1A Psalm of David. O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! (Ps 40:13; Ps 70:5)2Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! (Ex 29:41; Ps 28:2; Lu 1:10; Re 5:8; Re 8:3)3Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! (Ps 34:13; Mic 7:5)4Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies! (Ps 94:4; Ps 119:36; Ps 141:9; Pr 23:6)5Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds. (Ps 109:4; Pr 9:8; Pr 19:25; Pr 25:12; Pr 27:6; Ec 7:5)6When their judges are thrown over the cliff,[1] then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant. (2Ch 25:12; Lu 4:29)7As when one plows and breaks up the earth, so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.[2] (Ps 53:5; Eze 37:1)8But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless![3] (Ps 11:1; Ps 25:15)9Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me and from the snares of evildoers! (Ps 140:5)10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely. (Ps 7:15)