Psalm 141


Psalm 141 is the 141st psalm from the Book of Psalms. In the Greek Septuagint version of the bible, and in its Latin translation in the Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 140 in a slightly different numbering system. It is attributed to David. It is a plea to God not only for protection from one's enemies, but also from temptation to sin. The Lutheran Service Book and Evangelical Lutheran Worship feature the psalm prominently in their Evening Prayer services.

Text

Hebrew Bible version

Following is the Hebrew text of Psalm 141:
VerseHebrew
1מִזְמ֗וֹר לְדָ֫וִ֥ד יְהֹוָ֣ה קְ֖רָאתִיךָ ח֣וּשָׁה לִּ֑י הַֽאֲזִ֥ינָה ק֜וֹלִ֗י בְּקָרְאִי־לָֽךְ
2תִּכּ֚וֹן תְּפִלָּתִ֣י קְטֹ֣רֶת לְפָנֶ֑יךָ מַֽשְׂאַ֥ת כַּ֜פַּ֗י מִנְחַת־עָֽרֶב
3שִׁיתָ֣ה יְ֖הֹוָה שָׁמְרָ֣ה לְפִ֑י נִ֜צְּרָ֗ה עַל־דַּ֥ל שְׂפָתָֽי
4בְּרֶ֗שַׁע אֶת־אִישִׁ֥ים פֹּֽעֲלֵי־אָ֑וֶן וּבַל־אֶ֜לְחַ֗ם בְּמַנְעַמֵּיהֶֽם
5חֶ֡סֶד וְיֽוֹכִיחֵ֗נִי שֶׁ֣מֶן רֹ֖אשׁ אַל־יָנִ֣י רֹאשִׁ֑י כִּי־ע֥וֹד וּ֜תְפִלָּתִ֗י בְּרָעֽוֹתֵיהֶֽם
6נִשְׁמְט֣וּ בִידֵי־סֶ֖לַע שֹֽׁפְטֵיהֶ֑ם וְשָֽׁמְע֥וּ אֲ֜מָרַ֗י כִּ֣י נָעֵֽמוּ
7כְּמ֚וֹ פֹלֵ֣חַ וּבֹקֵ֣עַ בָּאָ֑רֶץ נִפְזְר֥וּ עֲ֜צָמֵ֗ינוּ לְפִ֣י שְׁאֽוֹל
8יֱהֹוִ֣ה אֲדֹנָ֣י עֵינָ֑י בְּכָ֥ה חָ֜סִ֗יתִי אַל־תְּעַ֥ר נַפְשִֽׁי
9שָׁמְרֵ֣נִי מִֽידֵי־פַ֖ח יָ֣קְשׁוּ לִ֑י וּ֜מֹֽקְשׁ֗וֹת פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן
10יִפְּל֣וּ בְמַכְמֹרָ֣יו רְשָׁעִ֑ים יַ֥חַד אָֽ֜נֹכִ֗י עַ֣ד אֶֽעֱבֽוֹר

King James Version

The following is the full English text of the Psalm from the King James Bible.
  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.

    Commentary

This psalm contains a prayer for deliverance from 'the enticements and the oppression of the wicked' and for seeking 'divine support to live a sinless life', probably a prayer of an ordinary worshipper, although it has some indications for being a "king's psalm" offered during 'a military campaign far away from Jerusalem'.
Verses 6-7 are likely corrupt, and scholars call their translation a best guess.
Verses 8–10 express a plea for help against persecutors, in terms similar to Psalm 140, and a wisdom teaching to be kept away from bad company is similar to Psalm 1.
The division as observed in NRSV is as follows:
  1. Verses 1–2: an opening call to God to hear his prayer.
  2. Verses 3–4: a petition to be enabled to avoid sin and sinners.
  3. Verses 5–7 and 8–10 are two sets of petitions against the enemies.