Psalms 141

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

10(not in this translation)

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