1 A Psalm of David. LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. 2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee [as] incense; [and] the lifting up of my hands [as] the evening sacrifice. 3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. 4 Incline not my heart to [any] evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties. 5 Let the righteous smite me; [it shall be] a kindness: and let him reprove me; [it shall be] an excellent oil, [which] shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also [shall be] in their calamities. 6 When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet. 7 Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth [wood] upon the earth. 8 But mine eyes [are] unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute. 9 Keep me from the snares [which] they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity. 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.
Psalms · King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Psalm 141 King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (2)
- Greek and Latin Bibles number most Psalms one lower than Hebrew and English Bibles.
- Psalm titles are printed as the start of verse 1.
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)