Psalms 141

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[1]David prayeth that his suit may be acceptable, [3]his conscience free from guilt, [9]and his person safe from the snares of the wicked.

A Psalm of David.

1. Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.

2. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

3. Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

4. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

5. Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.

6. When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.

7. Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.

8. But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.

9. Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.

10. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.

Metrical version

Psalm 141

C.M. Martyrdom

O LORD, I unto thee do cry,
do thou make haste to me,
And give an ear unto my voice,
when I cry unto thee.

As incense let my prayer be
directed in thine eyes;
And the uplifting of my hands
as th' ev'ning sacrifice.

Set, LORD, a watch before my mouth,
keep of my lips the door.
My heart incline thou not unto
the ills I should abhor,

To practise wicked works with men
that work iniquity;
And with their delicates my taste
let me not satisfy.

Let him that righteous is me smite,
it shall a kindness be;
Let him reprove, I shall it count
a precious oil to me:

Such smiting shall not break my head;
for yet the time shall fall,
When I in their calamities
to God pray for them shall.

When as their judges down shall be
in stony places cast,
Then shall they hear my words; for they
shall sweet be to their taste.

About the grave's devouring mouth
our bones are scattered round,
As wood which men do cut and cleave
lies scattered on the ground.

But unto thee, O GOD the Lord,
mine eyes uplifted be:
My soul do not leave destitute;
my trust is set on thee.

Lord, keep me safely from the snares
which they for me prepare;
And from the subtle gins of them
that wicked workers are.

Let workers of iniquity
into their own nets fall,
Whilst I do, by thine help, escape
the danger of them all.