PsalmsChapter 141

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A psalm of David. LORD, I call to you; hurry to me. Listen to my voice when I call to you.

Let my prayer rise before you like incense, the lifting of my hands like the evening sacrifice.

Set a guard, LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.

Do not let my heart turn to any evil thing, to take part in wicked deeds with those who do wrong; let me not taste their delicacies.

Let the righteous strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil on my head; let my head never refuse it. But my prayer is still against the deeds of the wicked.

When their judges are thrown down from the cliffs, then they will hear my words, for they are pleasant.

Like ground broken and split open by the plow, our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

But my eyes are on you, LORD God; in you I take refuge—do not leave me defenseless.

Keep me from the snares they have set for me, from the traps of those who do wrong.

Let the wicked fall into their own nets, all of them together, while I pass by in safety.

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Summary2

Chapter 141

Main Theme: A prayer for protection against sin and wicked people, with trust in God's righteous judgment.

Content: David cries out to God for help and asks that his prayer be like incense and the evening sacrifice. He asks God to guard his mouth and heart from evil and from fellowship with the ungodly. The psalmist prefers righteous correction over the flattery of the wicked, expressing confidence that God will protect him while the wicked fall into their own traps.

Key Words/Images:

Incense and the evening sacrifice (v.2): Prayer is compared to the holy offerings of temple service that rise up to God.
Guard over the mouth (v.3): A prayer for self-control and protection from sinful words.
Righteous correction (v.5): Correction from a righteous person is better than flattery from the wicked.
Traps and snares (vv.9–10): The plans of the wicked against the psalmist will backfire on them.

Historical context

Events and Customs

Psalm 141 contains rich liturgical imagery that connects personal prayer with temple worship. Verse 2 compares prayer to qetoret (incense) and lifted hands to minchat-erev (the evening offering). The incense offering was burned on the small golden altar inside the sanctuary morning and evening (Exod 30:7–8), and its rising smoke symbolized prayer ascending to God. The evening offering (mincha) was presented each afternoon at sunset, marking the conclusion of the day's worship services. This comparison shows that personal prayer was viewed as a spiritual alternative to temple service, which became especially significant for those who were away from Jerusalem.

Key Terms

The expression shita YHWH shomra lefi ("set, O LORD, a watch over my mouth," v. 3) uses military terminology—shomra denotes a guard post—applied metaphorically to self-discipline in speech. The word dal (door/gate) for lips is a rare expression that creates an image of the mouth as a gate needing protection.

Verse 4 contains the word hitolel (to practice wickedness), an intensive form describing repeated evil acts. The term manammim (their delicacies) refers to the luxurious feasts of the ungodly—a warning against being tempted by wealth gained through injustice.

Verse 5 uses the expression shemen rosh (head oil) as a metaphor for righteous correction, referencing a hospitality ritual in which guests were anointed with perfumed oil. The psalmist prefers such "wounding" kindness over the flattery of the ungodly.

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Key words8

Psalm — A poetic religious song or prayer, often used in worship and praise of God.
Lord — A title used to show respect and reverence toward God, acknowledging his sovereignty and power.
Ears — The part of the body that hears sound; used here symbolically to ask God to listen to the prayer.
Mouth — The part of the body used for speaking; used here symbolically to describe how one communicates with God through prayer.
Watchman — A person or divine force who protects and keeps watch over something or someone; here the psalmist asks God to be a watchman over the mouth and heart.
Heart — The inner center of emotions and will in a person; used here symbolically to represent the moral and spiritual center of a person's life.
Evil — Something that is morally wrong, harmful, or destructive; here it is used to describe actions or thoughts that contradict God's will.
Righteous — A person who acts in accordance with God's will and morality; here it refers to one who lives a good and godly life.