Let My Prayer Be Like Incense
Psalm 141 summary: what it means
Psalm 141 opens with an urgent call for God to come quickly and listen. The writer asks that his prayer be set before God like incense, and his lifted hands like the evening sacrifice. Then the prayer turns inward. He asks God to set a watch on his mouth, keep his heart from evil, and keep him from eating the delicacies of those who work iniquity.
Verse 5 is unusual: the writer welcomes correction from a righteous person as kindness, like oil on the head. The middle verses are hard to follow, with judges thrown down by the rock and bones scattered at the mouth of Sheol. The psalm ends with the writer's eyes on the LORD and a prayer that the wicked fall into their own nets.
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Psalm 141: Let My Prayer Be Like Incense
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-141
Psalm 141 commentary: explained verse by verse
LORD, I have called on you.Come to me quickly!Listen to my voice when I call to you.
LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
The psalm starts with urgency. The writer has called on the LORD and asks him to come quickly and listen to his voice. It is the plea of someone who needs an answer now.
Also read Psalm 22:19, Job 7:21, Psalm 40:13, Psalm 69:17-18
Let my prayer be set before you like incense;the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice.
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
The writer asks that his prayer be set before God like incense, and the lifting up of his hands like the evening sacrifice. Words and raised hands are pictured rising to God like an offering.
Also read Psalm 134:2, Psalm 63:4, Exodus 30:34-38, Numbers 16:35
Set a watch, LORD, before my mouth.Keep the door of my lips.
Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
The request is for a guard on the mouth. The writer asks the LORD to set a watch before it and keep the door of his lips. He treats his own speech as something that needs guarding.
Also read Micah 7:5, Psalm 17:3-5, James 1:26, Psalm 34:13
Don’t incline my heart to any evil thing,to practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity.Don’t let me eat of their delicacies.
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.
The prayer turns to the heart. The writer asks not to be drawn to any evil thing or to join those who work iniquity. He also asks not to eat their delicacies, refusing what comes with their company.
Also read 1 Corinthians 15:33, James 1:13, Revelation 18:4, Proverbs 23:1-3
Let the righteous strike me, it is kindness;let him reprove me, it is like oil on the head;don’t let my head refuse it;Yet my prayer is always against evil deeds.
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.
This verse welcomes correction. If a righteous person strikes or reproves the writer, it is kindness, like oil on the head, and he asks not to refuse it. His prayer remains set against evil deeds.
Also read Galatians 6:1, 2 Timothy 1:16-18, Proverbs 6:23, Proverbs 25:12
Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock.They will hear my words, for they are well spoken.
When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
The verse says their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock. Then people will hear the writer's words, because they are well spoken. The picture is hard to follow, and the psalm does not explain it.
Also read 2 Samuel 1:17-27, 1 Samuel 31:1-8, 1 Chronicles 12:38, 1 Chronicles 11:1-3
“As when one plows and breaks up the earth,our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.”
Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.
A saying is quoted about our bones scattered at the mouth of Sheol, like earth broken up by a plough. It is a picture of great loss. The psalm does not say what event it refers to.
Also read Psalm 53:5, Romans 8:36, Psalm 44:22, Revelation 11:8-9
For my eyes are on you, LORD, the Lord.I take refuge in you.Don’t leave my soul destitute.
But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.
The writer's attention returns to God. His eyes are on the LORD and he takes refuge in him. He asks not to be left destitute.
Also read Psalm 123:1-2, 2 Chronicles 20:12, Isaiah 41:17, Psalm 143:3-4
Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me,from the traps of the workers of iniquity.
Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
He asks to be kept from the snare and the traps laid by the workers of iniquity. The danger is described as hidden traps rather than open attack.
Also read Psalm 142:3, Jeremiah 18:22, Psalm 140:5, Psalm 38:12
Let the wicked fall together into their own netswhile I pass by.
Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.
The psalm ends with a reversal. The wicked are to fall together into their own nets while the writer passes by. Their traps catch them instead of him.
Also read Psalm 7:15-16, Psalm 37:14-15, Esther 7:10, Psalm 64:7-8
A prayer from Psalm 141
LORD, I have called on you. Come to me quickly, and listen to my voice. Let my prayer be set before you like incense, and the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice. Set a watch before my mouth, and keep the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, or to the company of those who work wickedness. If someone righteous corrects me, let me take it as kindness and not refuse it. My eyes are on you, LORD. I take refuge in you. Keep me from the snares laid for me. Amen.
Psalm 141 Bible study questions
- In verse 2, what two things does the writer compare his prayer and his lifted hands to?
- In verse 3, what does the writer ask the LORD to set before his mouth and to keep?
- Verse 5 calls correction from a righteous person a kindness. How do you usually receive correction?
- Verse 4 asks not to eat of the delicacies of those who do wrong. What makes wrong things attractive, and what helps you turn from them?
- Psalm 39:1 speaks of keeping the mouth with a bridle. How does it compare with the request in Psalm 141:3?
Questions about Psalm 141
What does Psalm 141 mean?
It is a prayer for God's quick help and for protection from evil, both around the writer and within him. He asks God to guard his mouth and heart, welcomes correction from the righteous, and prays that the wicked fall into their own traps.
Who wrote Psalm 141?
The heading attributes it to David.
What is Psalm 141:1 in the KJV?
The King James Version reads: "LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee."
What does Psalm 141:2 mean?
The writer asks that his prayer rise before God like incense and that his lifted hands be like the evening sacrifice. It compares prayer to the offerings of worship.
What does Psalm 141:3 mean?
It asks God to guard the writer's speech. The King James Version reads: "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips."
Psalm 141 KJV: the King James Version
LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.1
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.2
Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.3
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.4
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.5
When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.6
Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.7
But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.8
Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.9
Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.10
Psalm 141 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 מִזְמ֗וֹר לְדָ֫וִ֥ד יְהוָ֣ה קְ֭רָאתִיךָ ח֣וּשָׁה לִּ֑י הַאֲזִ֥ינָה ק֝וֹלִ֗י בְּקָרְאִי־לָֽךְ׃
2 תִּכּ֤וֹן תְּפִלָּתִ֣י קְטֹ֣רֶת לְפָנֶ֑יךָ מַֽשְׂאַ֥ת כַּ֝פַּ֗י מִנְחַת־עָֽרֶב׃
3 שִׁיתָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה שָׁמְרָ֣ה לְפִ֑י נִ֝צְּרָ֗ה עַל־דַּ֥ל שְׂפָתָֽי׃
4 אַל־תַּט־לִבִּ֨י לְדָבָ֪ר ׀ רָ֡ע לְהִתְע֘וֹלֵ֤ל עֲלִל֨וֹת ׀ בְּרֶ֗שַׁע אֶת־אִישִׁ֥ים פֹּֽעֲלֵי־אָ֑וֶן וּבַל־אֶ֝לְחַ֗ם בְּמַנְעַמֵּיהֶֽם׃
5 יֶֽהֶלְמֵֽנִי־צַדִּ֨יק ׀ חֶ֡סֶד וְֽיוֹכִיחֵ֗נִי שֶׁ֣מֶן רֹ֭אשׁ אַל־יָנִ֣י רֹאשִׁ֑י כִּי־ע֥וֹד וּ֝תְפִלָּתִ֗י בְּרָעוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃
6 נִשְׁמְט֣וּ בִֽידֵי־סֶ֭לַע שֹׁפְטֵיהֶ֑ם וְשָׁמְע֥וּ אֲ֝מָרַ֗י כִּ֣י נָעֵֽמוּ׃
7 כְּמ֤וֹ פֹלֵ֣חַ וּבֹקֵ֣עַ בָּאָ֑רֶץ נִפְזְר֥וּ עֲ֝צָמֵ֗ינוּ לְפִ֣י שְׁאֽוֹל׃
8 כִּ֤י אֵלֶ֨יךָ ׀ יְהֹוִ֣ה אֲדֹנָ֣י עֵינָ֑י בְּכָ֥ה חָ֝סִ֗יתִי אַל־תְּעַ֥ר נַפְשִֽׁי׃
9 שָׁמְרֵ֗נִי מִ֣ידֵי פַ֭ח יָ֣קְשׁוּ לִ֑י וּ֝מֹקְשׁ֗וֹת פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃
10 יִפְּל֣וּ בְמַכְמֹרָ֣יו רְשָׁעִ֑ים יַ֥חַד אָ֝נֹכִ֗י עַֽד־אֶעֱבֽוֹר׃
Psalm 141 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 140 there.
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1 I have cried to the, O Lord, hear me: hearken to my voice, when I cry to thee.
2 Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight; the lifting up of my hands, as evening sacrifice.
3 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth: and a door round about my lips.
4 Incline not my heart to evil words; to make excuses in sins. With men that work iniquity: and I will not communicate with the choicest of them.
5 The just shall correct me in mercy, and shall reprove me: but let not the oil of the sinner fatten my head. For my prayer also shall still be against the things with which they are well pleased:
6 Their judges falling upon the rock have been swallowed up. They shall hear my words, for they have prevailed:
7 As when the thickness of the earth is broken up upon the ground: Our bones are scattered by the side of hell.
8 But o to thee, O Lord, Lord, are my eyes: in thee have I put my trust, take not away my soul.
9 Keep me from the snare, which they have laid for me, and from the stumblingblocks of them that work iniquity.
10 The wicked shall fall in his net: I am alone until I pass.
Psalm 141 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 140.
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1 Psalmus David. Domine, clamavi ad te: exaudi me; intende voci meæ, cum clamavero ad te.
2 Dirigatur oratio mea sicut incensum in conspectu tuo; elevatio manuum mearum sacrificium vespertinum.
3 Pone, Domine, custodiam ori meo, et ostium circumstantiæ labiis meis.
4 Non declines cor meum in verba malitiæ, ad excusandas excusationes in peccatis; cum hominibus operantibus iniquitatem, et non communicabo cum electis eorum.
5 Corripiet me justus in misericordia, et increpabit me: oleum autem peccatoris non impinguet caput meum. Quoniam adhuc et oratio mea in beneplacitis eorum:
6 absorpti sunt juncti petræ judices eorum. Audient verba mea, quoniam potuerunt.
7 Sicut crassitudo terræ erupta est super terram, dissipata sunt ossa nostra secus infernum.
8 Quia ad te, Domine, Domine, oculi mei; in te speravi, non auferas animam meam.
9 Custodi me a laqueo quem statuerunt mihi, et a scandalis operantium iniquitatem.
10 Cadent in retiaculo ejus peccatores: singulariter sum ego, donec transeam.
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Psalm 141 at a glance
| Verses | 10 |
| Heading in the text | A Psalm by David. |
| Attributed to | The heading attributes it to David. |
| Type | Prayer and Lament |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 140 |
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Psalm 141 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 141 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 141 belongs
Psalms of DavidBook 5 of the Psalms
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source