1 A Psalm of David. O Lord, I have cried out to you, hear me. Attend to my voice, when I cry out to you. 2 Let my prayer be guided like incense in your sight: the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice. 3 O Lord, station a guard over my mouth and a door enclosing my lips. 4 Do not turn aside my heart to words of malice, to making excuses for sins, with men who work iniquity; and I will not communicate, even with the best of them. 5 The just one will correct me with mercy, and he will rebuke me. But do not allow the oil of the sinner to fatten my head. For my prayer will still be toward their good will. 6 Their judges have been engulfed, joined to the rocks. They will hear my words, which have prevailed, 7 as when the lava of the earth has erupted above ground. Our bones have been scattered beside Hell. 8 For Lord, O Lord, my eyes look to you. In you, I have hoped. Do not take away my soul. 9 Protect me from the snare that they have set up for me and from the scandals of those who work iniquity. 10 The sinners will fall into his net. I am alone, until I pass over.
Psalms · Catholic Public Domain Version
Psalm 140 (141) Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · Psalm 141 · About the recordings
Notes on this text (4)
- Greek and Latin Bibles number most Psalms one lower than Hebrew and English Bibles.
- Psalms follow the Greek/Latin numbering, with the psalm titles counted as verse 1 (as in the Vulgate).
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
Cross references (10)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info. References use English (Hebrew-based) verse numbers; links open the passage in CPDV.
- 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). Verse numbers below follow the Hebrew/English numbering: 141.
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)