Psalms 141

1Of understanding for David, A prayer when he was in the cave.

1 Lord, I have made my cry to you; come to me quickly; give ear to my voice, when it goes up to you.

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

2I cried to the Lord with my voice: with my voice I made supplication to the Lord.

2Let my prayer be ordered before you like a sweet smell; and let the lifting up of my hands be like the evening offering.

2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening oblation.

3In his sight I pour out my prayer, and before him I declare my trouble:

3O Lord, keep a watch over my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

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

4When my spirit failed me, then thou knewest my paths. In this way wherein I walked, they have hidden a snare for me.

4Keep my heart from desiring any evil thing, or from taking part in the sins of the evil-doers with men who do wrong: and let me have no part in their good things.

4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise deeds of wickedness with men that are workers of iniquity; and let me not eat of their dainties.

5I looked on my right hand, and beheld, and there was no one that would know me. Flight hath failed me: and there is no one that hath regard to my soul.

5Let the upright give me punishment; and let the god-fearing man put me in the right way; but I will not let the oil of sinners come on my head: when they do evil I will give myself to prayer.

5 Let the righteous smite me, it is kindness; and let him reprove me, it is an excellent oil which my head shall not refuse: for yet my prayer also is [for them] in their calamities.

6I cried to thee, O Lord: I said: Thou art my hope, my portion in the land of the living.

6When destruction comes to their judges by the side of the rock, they will give ear to my words, for they are sweet.

6 When their judges are thrown down from the rocks, they shall hear my words, for they are sweet.

7Attend to my supplication: for I am brought very low. Deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

7Our bones are broken up at the mouth of the underworld, as the earth is broken by the plough.

7 Our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol, as when one cutteth and cleaveth [wood] upon the earth.

8Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the just wait for me, until thou reward me.

8But my eyes are turned to you, O Lord God: my hope is in you; let not my soul be given up to death.

8 For unto thee, Jehovah, Lord, are mine eyes; in thee do I trust: leave not my soul destitute.

9(not in this translation)

9Keep me from the net which they have put down for me, and from the designs of the workers of evil.

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

10(not in this translation)

10Let the sinners be taken in the nets which they themselves have put down, while I go free.

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