Psalms — Chapter 141

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

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

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

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

5Let 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.

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

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

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

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

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

1Jehovah, I have called upon thee; make haste unto me: Give ear unto my voice, when I call unto thee.

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

3Set a watch, O Jehovah, before my mouth; Keep the door of my lips.

4Incline not my heart to any evil thing, To practise deeds of wickedness With men that work iniquity: And let me not eat of their dainties.

5Let the righteous smite me, [it shall be] a kindness; And let him reprove me, [it shall be as] oil upon the head; Let not my head refuse it: For even in their wickedness shall my prayer continue.

6Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock; And they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.

7As when one ploweth and cleaveth the earth, Our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

8For mine eyes are unto thee, O Jehovah the Lord: In thee do I take refuge; leave not my soul destitute.

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

10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, Whilst that I withal escape. Psalm 142 Maschil of David, when he was in the cave; a Prayer.

1A psalm of David. O Lord, I cry out to you. Come quickly to me. Pay attention to me when I cry out to you.

2May you accept my prayer like incense, my uplifted hands like the evening offering.

3O Lord, place a guard on my mouth. Protect the opening of my lips.

4Do not let me have evil desires or participate in sinful activities with men who behave wickedly. I will not eat their delicacies.

5May the godly strike me in love and correct me. May my head not refuse choice oil. Indeed, my prayer is a witness against their evil deeds.

6They will be thrown over the side of a cliff by their judges. They will listen to my words, for they are pleasant.

7As when one plows and breaks up the soil, so our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

8Surely I am looking to you, O Sovereign Lord. In you I take shelter. Do not expose me to danger.

9Protect me from the snare they have laid for me and the traps the evildoers have set.

10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I escape.

1Yahweh, I have called on you. Come to me quickly! Listen to my voice when I call to you.

2Let my prayer be set before you like incense; the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice.

3Set a watch, Yahweh, before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips.

4Don’t incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity. Don’t let me eat of their delicacies.

5Let the righteous strike me, it is kindness; let him reprove me, it is like oil on the head; don’t let my head refuse it; Yet my prayer is always against evil deeds.

6Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock. They will hear my words, for they are well spoken.

7“As when one plows and breaks up the earth, our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.”

8For my eyes are on you, Yahweh, the Lord. In you, I take refuge. Don’t leave my soul destitute.

9Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, from the traps of the workers of iniquity.

10Let the wicked fall together into their own nets, while I pass by.