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Psalm 141
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Psalm 141

Prayer for Preservation from Evil

A Psalm of David.

1 I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me;
    give ear to my voice when I call to you.(A)
2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you
    and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.(B)

3 Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.
4 Do not turn my heart to any evil,
    to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with those who work iniquity;
    do not let me eat of their delicacies.(C)

5 Let the righteous strike me;
    let the faithful correct me.
Never let the oil of the wicked anoint my head,[a]
    for my prayer is continually[b] against their wicked deeds.(D)
6 When they are given over to those who shall condemn them,
    then they shall learn that my words were pleasant.
7 Like a rock that one breaks apart and shatters on the land,
    so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol.[c](E)

8 But my eyes are turned toward you, O God, my Lord;
    in you I seek refuge; do not leave me defenseless.(F)
9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me
    and from the snares of evildoers.(G)
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
    while I alone escape.(H)

Footnotes

  1. 141.5 Gk: Meaning of Heb uncertain
  2. 141.5 Cn: Heb for continually and my prayer
  3. 141.7 Meaning of Heb of 141.5–7 is uncertain
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Psalm 141
New International Version

Psalm 141

A psalm of David.

1 I call to you, Lord, come quickly(A) to me;
    hear me(B) when I call to you.
2 May my prayer be set before you like incense;(C)
    may the lifting up of my hands(D) be like the evening sacrifice.(E)

3 Set a guard over my mouth,(F) Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.(G)
4 Do not let my heart(H) be drawn to what is evil
    so that I take part in wicked deeds(I)
along with those who are evildoers;
    do not let me eat their delicacies.(J)

5 Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness;
    let him rebuke me(K)—that is oil on my head.(L)
My head will not refuse it,
    for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

6 Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,(M)
    and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
7 They will say, “As one plows(N) and breaks up the earth,(O)
    so our bones have been scattered at the mouth(P) of the grave.”

8 But my eyes are fixed(Q) on you, Sovereign Lord;
    in you I take refuge(R)—do not give me over to death.
9 Keep me safe(S) from the traps set by evildoers,(T)
    from the snares(U) they have laid for me.
10 Let the wicked fall(V) into their own nets,
    while I pass by in safety.(W)

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Psalm 141
International Children’s Bible

A Prayer Not to Sin

A song of David.

141 Lord, I call to you. Come quickly.
    Listen to me when I call to you.
2 Let my prayer be like incense placed before you.
    Let my praise be like the evening sacrifice.

3 Lord, help me control my tongue.
    Help me be careful about what I say.
4 Don’t let me want to do evil
    or join others in doing wrong.
Don’t let me eat
    with those who do evil.

5 If a good man punished me, that would be kind.
    If he corrected me,
    that would be like having perfumed oil on my head.
    I shouldn’t refuse it.
But I pray against those who do evil.
6     Let their leaders be thrown down the cliffs.
    Then people will know that I have spoken the truth:
7 “The ground is plowed and broken up.
    In the same way, our bones have been scattered at the grave.”

8 Lord God, I look to you for help.
    I trust in you. Don’t let me die.
9 Protect me from the traps they set for me
    and from the net evil people have spread.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own pits.
    And let me pass by safely.

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