Psalms 141
[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.
A Psalm of David. Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. 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. 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. When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet. Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth. But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute. Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.
NKJV
1.
Lord, I cry out to You;
Make haste to me!
Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.
2.
Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
3.
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.
4.
Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,
To practice wicked works
With men who work iniquity;
And do not let me eat of their delicacies.
5.
Let the righteous strike me;
It shall be a kindness.
And let him rebuke me;
It shall be as excellent oil;
Let my head not refuse it.
For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked.
6.
Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the cliff,
And they hear my words, for they are sweet.
7.
Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave,
As when one plows and breaks up the earth.
8.
But my eyes are upon You, O God the Lord;
In You I take refuge;
Do not leave my soul destitute.
9.
Keep me from the snares they have laid for me,
And from the traps of the workers of iniquity.
10.
Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
While I escape safely.
Lord, I cry out to You;
Make haste to me!
Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.
Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,
To practice wicked works
With men who work iniquity;
And do not let me eat of their delicacies.
Let the righteous strike me;
It shall be a kindness.
And let him rebuke me;
It shall be as excellent oil;
Let my head not refuse it.
For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked.
Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the cliff,
And they hear my words, for they are sweet.
Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave,
As when one plows and breaks up the earth.
But my eyes are upon You, O God the Lord;
In You I take refuge;
Do not leave my soul destitute.
Keep me from the snares they have laid for me,
And from the traps of the workers of iniquity.
Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
While I escape safely.
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.
This psalm was likewise composed under distress and persecution. In it David prays, (1.) For God's kind acceptance of his prayers, ver. 1-2. (2.) For his powerful assistance in keeping his tongue, his heart, and hand, in the way of duty, ver. 3-4. (3.) That others might be helpful to him with their seasonable reproofs; and he to them with his prayers, ver. 5-6. (4.) That when he and his friends were brought to the last extremity, God would graciously appear for their relief, ver. 7-10.
When I am afflicted, let me pray. Let me highly prize and kindly receive Christian reproof, and earnestly improve it to my spiritual advantage. Nor let me ever despair, on account of the great distress of my soul, or of the church. Is any thing too hard for the Lord?