1
A Psalm of David.
O 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.
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 against their wickednesses.
6
When their judges are overthrown in stony places, then shall they hear my words; for they are sweet.
7
As when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth, so are their bones scattered at the mouth of the grave.
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.
🕊️🙏📖 Summary of Psalm 141 – “A Prayer to Guard the Heart and Tongue”
Psalm 141 is a deep personal prayer of David.
It is not only a plea for protection from enemies, but more deeply: a request that the heart, words, and deeds remain pleasing before the Lord.
This is a psalm about spiritual discipline and inward integrity.
📌 1. My Prayer Like Incense (verses 1–2)
➡️ “I cry unto Thee, O LORD; make haste unto me…”
➡️ “Let my prayer be as incense before Thee…”
➡️ “And the lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.”
🎯 David compares prayer to a sweet offering — not merely a request, but worship.
📌 2. Ask to Be Kept from Sin and an Evil Tongue (verses 3–4)
➡️ “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth…”
➡️ “Incline not my heart to evil…”
➡️ He does not want to eat the “dainties” of the wicked — a sign of compromise and sinful pleasure.
🎯 This is a prayer for inward purity and self-control — seldom found so plainly in other psalms.
📌 3. Receive the Rebuke of the Righteous (verse 5)
➡️ “Let the righteous smite me — it is kindness…”
➡️ “It is like oil upon the head — let it not be refused!”
🎯 David humbly receives correction — for him, the rebuke of the righteous is a blessing, not an insult.
📌 4. Confidence in God’s Justice (verses 6–7)
➡️ The wicked will be judged, though they may now seem to prosper.
➡️ “Their bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave…”
🎯 David knows that judgment upon evil will come, even while he is still under pressure.
📌 5. Continue to Take Refuge and Trust in the Lord (verses 8–10)
➡️ “Unto Thee, O LORD, are mine eyes…”
➡️ “Keep me from the snares they have laid…”
➡️ The enemy will fall into their own net.
🎯 This is steadfast faith in the midst of threat: the Lord is the final refuge and justice.
📖 Main Teaching
- Pure prayer is a sweet offering unto God
- We must keep watch against sin, not only enemies from without, but also temptations within the heart
- Reproof from the righteous is a grace, not a reproach
- Our heart, tongue, and way of life need guarding — for the attack is often inward
- Trust that the Lord will overcome evil and protect the righteous
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
📖 James 3:6
“The tongue is a fire…”
➡️ This agrees with David’s prayer that the Lord would keep his mouth from sin.
📖 Romans 12:2
“Be not conformed to this world…”
➡️ David prays that his heart would not incline toward evil or compromise.
📖 Galatians 6:1
“If a man be overtaken in a fault… restore such a one in the spirit of meekness.”
➡️ This agrees with Psalm 141:5 — loving reproof is part of spiritual growth.
📖 Ephesians 6:11
“Put on the whole armour of God…”
➡️ To stand against the snares and fiery darts of the evil one, like the traps mentioned in verses 9–10.
🕊️ “Let my prayer be as incense before Thee.” – Psalm 141:2
🕊️ “Set a watch before my mouth…” – Psalm 141:3
🕊️ “Let the righteous smite me — it is kindness.” – Psalm 141:5
🕊️ “Unto Thee, O LORD, are mine eyes.” – Psalm 141:8
