Psalm 141

English Standard Version

Give Ear to My Voice

A Psalm of David.

141 O Lord, I call upon you; ^(A)hasten to me!
Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
²Let ^(B)my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and ^(C)the lifting up of my hands as ^(D)the evening sacrifice!

³^(E)Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
    ^(F)keep watch over the door of my lips!
⁴^(G)Do not let my heart incline to any evil,
    to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who ^(H)work iniquity,
    and ^(I)let me not eat of their delicacies!

⁵^(J)Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
    let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;
    let my head not refuse it.
Yet ^(K)my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
⁶When their judges are ^(L)thrown over the cliff,^[a]
    then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.
⁷As when one plows and breaks up the earth,
    so shall our bones ^(M)be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.^[b]

⁸But ^(N)my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord;
    ^(O)in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!^[c]
⁹Keep me from ^(P)the trap that they have laid for me
    and from the snares of evildoers!
¹⁰Let the wicked ^(Q)fall into their own nets,
    while I pass by safely.