Psalm 141

Psalm 141

A psalm of David.

1 O LORD, I am calling to you. Please hurry!
Listen when I cry to you for help!2 Accept my prayer as incense offered to you,
and my upraised hands as an evening offering.3 Take control of what I say, O LORD,
and guard my lips.4 Don’t let me drift toward evil
or take part in acts of wickedness.
Don’t let me share in the delicacies
of those who do wrong.5 Let the godly strike me!
It will be a kindness!
If they correct me, it is soothing medicine.
Don’t let me refuse it.
But I pray constantly
against the wicked and their deeds.6 When their leaders are thrown down from a cliff,
the wicked will listen to my words and find them true.7 Like rocks brought up by a plow,
the bones of the wicked will lie scattered without burial.t8 I look to you for help, O Sovereign LORD.
You are my refuge; don’t let them kill me.9 Keep me from the traps they have set for me,
from the snares of those who do wrong.10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
but let me escape.

PSALMS 141

A Prayer //for the [Lord]'s Protection

1 I pray to you, [Lord]!
Please listen when I pray
and hurry to help me.

2  t Think of my prayer
as sweet-smelling incense,
and think of my lifted hands
as an evening sacrifice.

3 Help me to guard my words
whenever I say something.

4 Don't let me want to do evil
or waste my time doing wrong
with wicked people.
Don't let me even taste
the good things they offer.

5 Let your faithful people
correct and punish me.
My prayers condemn the deeds
of those who do wrong,
so don't let me be friends
with any of them.

6 Everyone will admit
that I was right
when their rulers are thrown
down a rocky cliff,

7 and their bones lie scattered
like crushed rocks
on top of a grave.t

8 You are my [Lord] and God,
and I look to you for safety.
Don't let me be harmed.

9 Protect me from the traps
of those violent people,

10 and make them fall
into their own traps
while you help me escape.