1I call to you, Lord, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you.2May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.3Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.4Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies.5Let a righteous man strike me – that is a kindness; let him rebuke me – that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.6Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs, and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.7They will say, ‘As one ploughs and breaks up the earth, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave.’8But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge – do not give me over to death.9Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers, from the snares they have laid for me.10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.
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)