1 A Psalm of David. I call upon You, O LORD; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to You. 2 May my prayer be set before You like incense; my uplifted hands, like the evening offering. 3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips. 4 Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing or take part in works of wickedness with men who do iniquity; let me not feast on their delicacies. 5 Let the righteous man strike me; let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion. It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. For my prayer is ever against the deeds of the wicked. 6 When their rulers are thrown down from the cliffs, the people will listen to my words, for they are pleasant. 7 As when one plows and breaks up the soil, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol. 8 But my eyes are fixed on You, O GOD the Lord. In You I seek refuge; do not leave my soul defenseless. 9 Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, and from the lures of evildoers. 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.
Psalms · Majority Standard Bible
Psalm 141 Majority Standard Bible
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)