Psalm Chapter 141 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 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.
More Psalms Chapter 141 Continued Below
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.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 141:2
Verse: תְּפִלָּתִי כַמִּנְחָה לְפָנֶיךָ
Transliteration: Tefillati kaminchah lefanekha
English: “Let my prayer be counted as incense before You; the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”
Focus Word: מִנְחָה (Minchah)
- Root: נ-ח-ה (Nun-Chet-Heh)
- Meaning: “Offering,” “gift,” “sacrifice.”
- Deeper Insight: Minchah symbolizes devoted, fragrant worship, highlighting prayers offered as pleasing to God.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| קְרָאתִיךָ — qeratikha | Verse 1 — “LORD, I cry out to You…” | “To call,” cry urgently. | Qeratikha (“to call”) conveys earnest appeal for immediate attention. It marks the Psalmist’s desperation for divine nearness. The verb opens the Psalm with relational urgency. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon of the Old Testament |
| תִּכּוֹן — tikon | Verse 2 — “Let my prayer be set before You…” | “To establish,” set firm. | Tikon (“to set/establish”) frames prayer as an offering ordered before God. It evokes sacrificial imagery of incense. The term elevates prayer into liturgical form. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms |
| מִנְחָה — minchah | Verse 2 — “…the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” | “Offering,” grain-offering. | Minchah (“offering”) signifies worship given in reverence. It equates physical posture with sacrifice. The word emphasizes prayer as priestly action. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament |
| שָׁמַר — shamar | Verse 3 — “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth…” | “To guard,” keep watch. | Shamar (“to guard”) stresses moral vigilance over speech. It reveals vulnerability to sin through words. The term anchors ethical self-control. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| דֶּלֶת — delet | Verse 3 — “…keep watch over the door of my lips.” | “Door,” opening. | Delet (“door”) symbolizes controlled access to speech. It reflects careful discernment of expression. The word enriches the Psalm’s metaphor of disciplined communication. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| נָטָה — natah | Verse 4 — “Do not incline my heart to evil…” | “To incline,” bend toward. | Natah (“to incline”) depicts internal orientation toward temptation. It emphasizes vulnerability in desire. The verb highlights need for divine guidance. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| רָע — ra | Verse 4 — “…any evil thing…” | “Evil,” wickedness. | Ra (“evil”) expresses moral corruption. It encompasses harmful conduct and intent. The word underscores ethical seriousness. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| נָגַע — naga | Verse 5 — “…let the righteous strike me…” | “To strike/touch,” correct. | Naga (“to strike”) is used metaphorically for correction. It portrays rebuke as healing discipline. The term reinforces righteous accountability. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| שָׁחַת — shachat | Verse 7 — “…our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.” | “Pit,” grave. | Shachat (“pit/grave”) signifies mortal danger and dissolution. It evokes imagery of death’s nearness. The word heightens urgency for deliverance. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| מַחֲשָׁבָה — machashavah | Verse 8 — “…do not leave my soul destitute.” | “Plan, thought, scheme.” | Machashavah (“plot/scheme”) implies hostile designs of the wicked. It contrasts human schemes with divine protection. The word strengthens the Psalm’s plea. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 141 |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Scott (University of Edinburgh, 1747–1821) | Commentary on the Holy Bible | Scott stresses the Psalm’s call to righteousness, asking God to guide speech and actions. |
| John Owen (University of Oxford, 1616–1683) | A Commentary on the Psalms | Owen emphasizes that deliberate prayer fosters moral vigilance and spiritual integrity. |
| George Buchanan (St Andrews / Paris, 1506–1582) | Commentaries on the Psalms | Buchanan observes that the Psalm encourages discipline in both speech and thought. |
| Philip Doddridge (Northampton Academy, 1702–1751) | Family Expositor | Doddridge interprets the Psalm as a model for seeking God’s aid to resist temptation. |
| John Brown (Edinburgh, 1722–1787) | Self-Interpreting Bible | Brown highlights that relying on divine guidance fosters moral clarity and spiritual strength. |
Prayer: May The Lord give you the blessing that He has promised to all those who fear Him and keep His commandments. May The Lord give you great health and cause you to prosper in the ways of the Lord as you do as He says. Father, grant unto this one reading, your peace in Jesus' Mighty Name for you are Lord and it is on You that we depend in Jesus' Name. Amen.
