Psalms 141

1 I call [cry out, invoke] upon You, O LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God]; come quickly [hasten, make haste] to me. Hear [listen, give ear] my voice [sound, utterance] when I call [cry out, invoke] to You. word study 2 May my prayer [a heartfelt supplication, a request to God] be set before You [in Your presence, face to face] like incense [a sweet and pleasing aroma], my uplifted hands [my palms] like the evening offering [a gift, a tribute to God, the evening sacrifice]. word study 3 Set [appoint, establish] a guard [watch, protection], O LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God], over my mouth [lips, speech]; keep watch [be vigilant, protect] at the door [entrance, gate] of my lips [words, language]. word study 4 Do not [under no circumstances] let my heart [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] be drawn [incline, stretch] to any evil [bad, wicked] thing or take part [join, participate] in works [deeds, actions] of wickedness [wrong, immoral actions] with men [individuals, people] who do [practice, commit] iniquity [evil, wickedness]; let me not [prevent me from] feast [eat, consume] on their delicacies [dainty foods, pleasant things]. word study 5 Let the righteous [just, upright] man strike [smite, discipline] me; let his rebuke [correction, reproof] be an act of loving devotion [kindness, mercy]. It is oil [olive oil, ointment] for my head [the topmost part of the body]; let me not refuse [forbid, reject] it. For my prayer [supplication, request] is ever [still, continually] against the deeds [actions, works] of the wicked [evil, morally bad]. word study 6 When their rulers [judges, leaders] are thrown down [released, overthrown] from the cliffs [craggy rocks, stony places], the people will listen to my words [sayings, speech], for they are pleasant [sweet, agreeable, delightful]. word study 7 As when one plows [tills the soil] and breaks up [cleaves, opens] the soil [land, earth], so our bones [the substance of our being] have been scattered [dispersed, spread out] at the mouth [lip, edge] of Sheol [the underworld, grave, place of no return]. word study 8 But my eyes [the windows of my soul] are fixed on You, O GOD [Yehovah, the Lord of all] the Lord [Adonay, my Master]. In You [the Rock of my salvation] I seek refuge [trust and find protection]; do not [under no circumstances] leave my soul [my inner being, my life] defenseless [uncovered, destitute, without help]. word study 9 Keep [protect, guard] me from the snares [traps, nets] they have laid [set, prepared] for me, and from the lures [gins, devices] of evildoers [workers of iniquity, wicked people]. word study 10 Let the [morally wrong, sinful] wicked [those who are guilty of crime or sin] fall [be defeated, come to ruin] into their own [hunter’s] nets [traps, snares], while [till, until] I [the speaker, the psalmist] pass by [cross over, escape] in [with, having] safety [unharmed, free from danger]. word study