A HUMBLE BUT URGENT PRAYER
Key verse: 5
NIV
Psalm 141
A psalm of David.
1 I call to you, Lord, come quickly(A) to me;
hear me(B) when I call to you.
2 May my prayer be set before you like incense;(C)
may the lifting up of my hands(D) be like the evening sacrifice.(E)
3 Set a guard over my mouth,(F) Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.(G)
4 Do not let my heart(H) be drawn to what is evil
so that I take part in wicked deeds(I)
along with those who are evildoers;
do not let me eat their delicacies.(J)
5 Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness;
let him rebuke me(K)—that is oil on my head.(L)
My head will not refuse it,
for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.
Cross references
- Psalm 141:1 : S Ps 22:19
- Psalm 141:1 : S Ps 4:1; 5:1-2; 27:7; 143:1
- Psalm 141:2 : S Lk 1:9; Rev 5:8; 8:3
- Psalm 141:2 : S Ps 28:2; 63:4; 1Ti 2:8
- Psalm 141:2 : S Ex 29:39, 41; 30:8
- Psalm 141:3 : S Ps 34:13; Jas 1:26; 3:8
- Psalm 141:3 : S Ps 12:2
- Psalm 141:4 : S Jos 24:23
- Psalm 141:4 : S Ps 106:29
- Psalm 141:4 : Pr 23:1-3
- Psalm 141:5 : Pr 9:8; 19:25; 25:12; Ecc 7:5
- Psalm 141:5 : S Ex 29:7; Ps 23:5
- Psalm 141:6 : S 2Ch 25:12
- Psalm 141:7 : Ps 129:3
- Psalm 141:7 : Nu 16:32-33
- Psalm 141:7 : S Nu 16:30
- Psalm 141:8 : Ps 123:2
- Psalm 141:8 : Ps 2:12; 11:1
- Psalm 141:9 : Ps 140:4
- Psalm 141:9 : S Ps 64:5
- Psalm 141:9 : S Ps 38:12
- Psalm 141:10 : Ps 7:15; 35:8; 57:6
- Psalm 141:10 : Ps 124:7
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Give Ear to My Voice
A Psalm of David.141 O Lord, I call upon you; (A)hasten to me!
Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
2 Let (B)my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and (C)the lifting up of my hands as (D)the evening sacrifice!
3 (E)Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
(F)keep watch over the door of my lips!
4 (G)Do not let my heart incline to any evil,
to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who (H)work iniquity,
and (I)let me not eat of their delicacies!
5 (J)Let 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 (K)my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
6 When their judges are (L)thrown over the cliff,[a]
then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.
7 As when one plows and breaks up the earth,
so shall our bones (M)be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.[b]
8 But (N)my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord;
(O)in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless![c]
9 Keep me from (P)the trap that they have laid for me
and from the snares of evildoers!
10 Let the wicked (Q)fall into their own nets,
while I pass by safely.
Read full chapter
Footnotes
- Psalm 141:6 Or When their judges fall into the hands of the Rock
- Psalm 141:7 The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 6, 7 is uncertain
- Psalm 141:8 Hebrew refuge; do not pour out my life!
Cross references
- Psalm 141:1 : Ps. 40:13; 70:5
- Psalm 141:2 : Luke 1:10; Rev. 5:8; 8:3, 4
- Psalm 141:2 : See Ps. 28:2
- Psalm 141:2 : See Ex. 29:41
- Psalm 141:3 : Ps. 34:13
- Psalm 141:3 : Mic. 7:5
- Psalm 141:4 : Ps. 119:36
- Psalm 141:4 : ver. 9; Ps. 94:4
- Psalm 141:4 : Prov. 23:6
- Psalm 141:5 : [Prov. 9:8; 19:25; 25:12; 27:6; Eccles. 7:5]
- Psalm 141:5 : [Ps. 109:4]
- Psalm 141:6 : 2 Chr. 25:12; [Luke 4:29]
- Psalm 141:7 : Ps. 53:5; [Ezek. 37:1]
- Psalm 141:8 : Ps. 25:15
- Psalm 141:8 : See Ps. 11:1
- Psalm 141:9 : See Ps. 140:5
- Psalm 141:10 : [Ps. 7:15]
141 O Lord, I call upon you; (A)hasten to me!
Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
2 Let (B)my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and (C)the lifting up of my hands as (D)the evening sacrifice!
3 (E)Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
(F)keep watch over the door of my lips!
4 (G)Do not let my heart incline to any evil,
to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who (H)work iniquity,
and (I)let me not eat of their delicacies!
5 (J)Let 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 (K)my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
6 When their judges are (L)thrown over the cliff,[a]
then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.
7 As when one plows and breaks up the earth,
so shall our bones (M)be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.[b]
8 But (N)my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord;
(O)in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless![c]
9 Keep me from (P)the trap that they have laid for me
and from the snares of evildoers!
10 Let the wicked (Q)fall into their own nets,
while I pass by safely.
Footnotes
- Psalm 141:6 Or When their judges fall into the hands of the Rock
- Psalm 141:7 The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 6, 7 is uncertain
- Psalm 141:8 Hebrew refuge; do not pour out my life!
Cross references
- Psalm 141:1 : Ps. 40:13; 70:5
- Psalm 141:2 : Luke 1:10; Rev. 5:8; 8:3, 4
- Psalm 141:2 : See Ps. 28:2
- Psalm 141:2 : See Ex. 29:41
- Psalm 141:3 : Ps. 34:13
- Psalm 141:3 : Mic. 7:5
- Psalm 141:4 : Ps. 119:36
- Psalm 141:4 : ver. 9; Ps. 94:4
- Psalm 141:4 : Prov. 23:6
- Psalm 141:5 : [Prov. 9:8; 19:25; 25:12; 27:6; Eccles. 7:5]
- Psalm 141:5 : [Ps. 109:4]
- Psalm 141:6 : 2 Chr. 25:12; [Luke 4:29]
- Psalm 141:7 : Ps. 53:5; [Ezek. 37:1]
- Psalm 141:8 : Ps. 25:15
- Psalm 141:8 : See Ps. 11:1
- Psalm 141:9 : See Ps. 140:5
- Psalm 141:10 : [Ps. 7:15]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
The burning of incense in the Old Testament temple worship represented prayer going up to God. We should have faith that our prayer life is a sweet-smelling offering to God (2). The Psalmist once again is praying urgently for deliverance from enemies. But first, he prays that he himself may not speak wicked words (3) or be tempted by evil (4). Then he confesses his willingness to receive a rebuke from the righteous (5). To grow spiritually, we need to be able to receive correction ourselves, not just pray for others to be changed. God honors humble prayers from those who are seeking to be made holy.
When we have humbled ourselves before God, we can also pray for God’s justice to be displayed against evildoers (6-7). However, it is more important to keep our own eyes fixed on God and trust him for our protection (8-9). That way, we can avoid becoming too focused on human enemies.
Prayer: Father, thank you for being my protector. Please send me your correction in the right time and help me speak only good and helpful words.
One Word: Willing to accept a rebuke
