Psalms 141:1-4

Psalm 141

A psalm of David.

141:1 O Lord, I cry out to you. Come quickly to me!

Pay attention to me when I cry out to you!

141:2 May you accept my prayer like incense,

my uplifted hands like the evening offering!

141:3 O Lord, place a guard on my mouth!

Protect the opening of my lips!

141:4 Do not let me have evil desires,

or participate in sinful activities

with men who behave wickedly.

I will not eat their delicacies.


sn Psalm 141. The psalmist asks God to protect him from sin and from sinful men.

tn Heb “may my prayer be established [like] incense before you, the uplifting of my hands [like] an evening offering.”

tn Heb “door.” The Hebrew word occurs only here in the OT.

sn My mouth…my lips. The psalmist asks God to protect him from speaking inappropriately or sinfully.

tn Heb “do not turn my heart toward an evil thing.”

tn Heb “to act sinfully in practices in wickedness with men, doers of evil.”

sn Their delicacies. This probably refers to the enjoyment that a sinful lifestyle appears to offer.