Psalms
Chapter 141
David asks God to hear him quickly, and asks that his prayer count like the incense and evening offering at the temple. He asks God to guard his mouth and keep his heart from joining people who do wrong, and he says he would rather be corrected by a good person than share a wicked man's fine food. The psalm ends with danger close by: bones scattered at the grave, hidden traps set for him, and David keeping his eyes on God for rescue.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
1LORD, I am calling to you. Come to me quickly. Listen to my voice when I call to you.
2Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
2Let my prayer rise to you like burning incense. Let my lifted hands count like the evening offering.
Incense was a sweet-smelling smoke burned in the temple. The evening sacrifice was an offering made every day at sundown. David is asking that his words count as much as those acts of worship.
3Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
3LORD, set a guard over my mouth. Watch the door of my lips so nothing wrong gets out.
4Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
4Do not let my heart lean toward evil, or join in wicked deeds with men who do wrong. Keep me from sharing their fine food.
5Let 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.
5Let a good man correct me; that is kindness. Let him tell me I am wrong; it is like healing oil on my head. I will not turn it away. And I keep praying against the deeds of the wicked.
"Smite" here means to strike, and it stands for a sharp correction. Oil poured on the head was soothing and welcome, so "which shall not break my head" means David will accept the correction instead of refusing it.
6When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
6When their leaders are thrown down from the rocky cliffs, the people will listen to my words, for my words are good to hear.
7Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.
7Our bones lie scattered at the mouth of the grave, like clods of dirt broken up when someone plows the ground.
8But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.
8But my eyes stay on you, LORD God. I trust in you for safety. Do not leave me with no protection.
9Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
9Keep me away from the traps they have set for me, and from the snares of people who do wrong.
The KJV word "gins" means traps, the kind hidden on the ground to catch an animal.
10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.
10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I walk past them safely.
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