Psalm 141
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

Psalm 141

Prayer for Preservation from Evil

A Psalm of David.

1I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me;
    give ear to my voice when I call to you.
2Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
    and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.

3Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.
4Do not turn my heart to any evil,
    to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with those who work iniquity;
    do not let me eat of their delicacies.

5Let the righteous strike me;
    let the faithful correct me.
Never let the oil of the wicked anoint my head,[a]
    for my prayer is continually[b] against their wicked deeds.
6When they are given over to those who shall condemn them,
    then they shall learn that my words were pleasant.
7Like a rock that one breaks apart and shatters on the land,
    so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol.[c]

8But my eyes are turned toward you, O God, my Lord;
    in you I seek refuge; do not leave me defenseless.
9Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me,
    and from the snares of evildoers.
10Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
    while I alone escape.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 141:5 Gk: Meaning of Heb uncertain
  2. Psalm 141:5 Cn: Heb for continually and my prayer
  3. Psalm 141:7 Meaning of Heb of verses 5–7 is uncertain
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.





Home

Psalm 140
Top of Page
Top of Page