1 A Psalm. Of David. Lord, I have made my cry to you; come to me quickly; give ear to my voice, when it goes up to you. 2 Let my prayer be ordered before you like a sweet smell; and let the lifting up of my hands be like the evening offering. 3 O Lord, keep a watch over my mouth; keep the door of my lips. 4 Keep my heart from desiring any evil thing, or from taking part in the sins of the evil-doers with men who do wrong: and let me have no part in their good things. 5 Let the upright give me punishment; and let the god-fearing man put me in the right way; but I will not let the oil of sinners come on my head: when they do evil I will give myself to prayer. 6 When destruction comes to their judges by the side of the rock, they will give ear to my words, for they are sweet. 7 Our bones are broken up at the mouth of the underworld, as the earth is broken by the plough. 8 But my eyes are turned to you, O Lord God: my hope is in you; let not my soul be given up to death. 9 Keep me from the net which they have put down for me, and from the designs of the workers of evil. 10 Let the sinners be taken in the nets which they themselves have put down, while I go free.
Psalms · Bible in Basic English
Psalm 141 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Greek and Latin Bibles number most Psalms one lower than Hebrew and English Bibles.
Cross references (10)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Psalm 70:5; Psalm 40:13; Psalm 71:12; Psalm 143:7; Psalm 69:17–18
- 2 Revelation 8:3–4; Revelation 5:8; 1 Timothy 2:8; Daniel 9:21; Malachi 1:11
- 3 James 1:26; Psalm 39:1; Micah 7:5; Psalm 34:13; James 3:2
- 4 Matthew 6:13; Psalm 119:36; Isaiah 63:17; 1 Corinthians 15:33; 2 Corinthians 6:17
- 5 Ecclesiastes 7:5; Revelation 3:19; Galatians 6:1; Proverbs 27:5–6; Proverbs 25:12
- 6 2 Chronicles 25:12; Psalm 45:2; 2 Samuel 5:1–3; 1 Samuel 31:1–8; 1 Chronicles 12:38
- 7 Psalm 53:5; Romans 8:36; Psalm 44:22; Revelation 11:8–9; 1 Samuel 22:18–19
- 8 Psalm 123:1–2; 2 Chronicles 20:12; Isaiah 41:17; Psalm 102:17; Psalm 25:15–17
- 9 Psalm 140:5; Luke 20:20; Psalm 119:110; Proverbs 13:14; Psalm 38:12
- 10 Psalm 35:8; Psalm 140:9; Psalm 64:7–8; Esther 7:10; Proverbs 11:8
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
What this Psalm containeth, I believe that ye perceived when it was being chanted; for therein the Church of Christ, set in the midst of the wicked, complaineth and groaneth, and poureth out prayer to God.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)
… yet hath not given me over to death." "For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth." "The righteous," saith it, "shall chasten me in mercy, and reprove me; but let not the oil of sinners make fat my head." And again he saith, "Blessed is the man whom the Lord reproveth, and reject not …
Not yet, therefore, hadst Thou set a watch before my mouth, and kept the door of my lips, that my heart might not incline to wicked speeches, to make excuses of sins, with men that work iniquity --and, therefore, was I still united with their "Elect."
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
For as to this also being a sacrifice, hear what the prophet saith: "A sacrifice of praise will glorify me;" and again, "Sacrifice to God a sacrifice of praise;" and, "The lifting up of mine hands is an evening sacrifice." So that if it be but a prayer, which thou art offering in such a frame of mind, it were …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
But first listen to what thou sayest in the Psalm, "Let my prayer be set forth in Thy sight as incense." When then not incense, but a stinking smoke arises from thee, and from thy deeds, what punishment dost thou not deserve to undergo?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)