Dec 7, 2024
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Don’t let sin anoint my head.
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. - KJV Psalm 141 v. 5
Psalm 141 verse 5 King James Version
Psalm 141: (Good News Translation)
God’s Saving Word: Prayer
Introduction
Psalm 141: Today’s reading opens with the psalm writer, with uplifted hands, asking God to receive his prayer “as incense.” Written in the wisdom tradition, today’s psalm includes a request to be kept from “wanting to do wrong” and concludes with a request for God’s protection from evildoers.
Scripture Reading
An Evening Prayer
1 I call to you, Lord; help me now! Listen to me when I call to you. 2 Receive my prayer as incense, my uplifted hands as an evening sacrifice.
3 Lord, place a guard at my mouth, a sentry at the door of my lips. 4 Keep me from wanting to do wrong and from joining evil people in their wickedness. May I never take part in their feasts.
5 Good people may punish me and rebuke me in kindness, but I will never accept honor from evil people, because I am always praying against their evil deeds. 6 When their rulers are thrown down from rocky cliffs, the people will admit that my words were true. 7 Like wood that is split and chopped into bits, so their bones are scattered at the edge of the grave.
8 But I keep trusting in you, my Sovereign Lord. I seek your protection; don't let me die! 9 Protect me from the traps they have set for me, from the snares of those evildoers. 10 May the wicked fall into their own traps while I go by unharmed.
Today's Key Verse: Psalm 141:2
Receive my prayer as incense, my uplifted hands as an evening sacrifice.
Reflect
In Exodus 30:1, Moses is instructed to build an altar for burning incense, and Aaron is told “to burn sweet-smelling incense on it” (Exodus 30:7). The smoke from the burning incense represented the prayers that went up to God. What are your thoughts about this image for prayer? What prayers will you lift up to God today?
Pray
Sovereign God, trusting in your love, mercy, and care, I lift up my prayers to you this day, asking for your help and guidance in all I do and say. Place a sentry at the door of my lips and keep me from wanting to do wrong. All this I ask in your holy and precious name. Amen.
Come Quickly to Me
1 {A Psalm of David.} Jehovah, I have called upon thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I call unto thee.
2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening oblation.
3 Set a watch, O Jehovah, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise deeds of wickedness with men that are workers of iniquity; and let me not eat of their dainties.
5 Let the righteous smite me, it is kindness; and let him reprove me, it is an excellent oil which my head shall not refuse: for yet my prayer also is for them in their calamities.
6 When their judges are thrown down from the rocks, they shall hear my words, for they are sweet.
7 Our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.
8 For unto thee, Jehovah, Lord, are mine eyes; in thee do I trust: leave not my soul destitute.
9 Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, and from the traps of the workers of iniquity.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal pass over. — Psalm 141 | Literal Emphasis Translation (LET) The Literal Emphasis Bible is in the public domain. Cross References: Numbers 16:22-23; Joshua 24:23; 1 Samuel 1:26; 2 Chronicles 25:12; Psalm 2:12; Psalm 5:1; Psalm 11:1; Psalm 22:19; Psalm 23:5; Psalm 38:12; Psalm 53:5; Psalm 57:6; Psalm 64:5; Psalm 119:36; Psalm 124:7; Amos 2:3; Luke 1:10; Galatians 6:1; 1 Timothy 2:8; James 1:26
A Prayer for Maturity
1 Lord, I call to you, be quick to listen to me when I cry out! 2 Let my prayer be like incense offered before you, and my uplifted hands like the evening sacrifice.
3 Lord, set a guard over my mouth; keep watch over the door to my lips. 4 Don’t let my heart turn toward evil or involve itself in wicked activities with men who practice iniquity. Let me not feast on their delicacies.
5 Let one who is righteous strike me; It is an act of gracious love. Let him rebuke me, because it is oil for my head; do not let my head refuse it. My prayers continuously will be against their wicked activities. 6 When their judges are thrown off the cliff, the people will hear my words, for they are appropriate.
7 Just as one plows and breaks up the earth, our bones are scattered near the entrance to the place of the dead. 8 Nevertheless, my eyes are on you, Lord God, as I seek protection in you. Don’t leave me defenseless! 9 Protect me from the trap laid for me and from the snares of those who practice evil. 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I come through. — Psalm 141 | International Standard Version (ISV) The International Standard Version of the Holy Bible Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. All Rights Reserved internationally.
A praise song of David.
1 Lord, I call to you for help. Listen to me as I pray. Please hurry and help me! 2 Accept my prayer like a gift of burning incense, the words I lift up like an evening sacrifice. 3 Lord, help me control what I say. Don’t let me say anything bad. 4 Take away any desire to do evil. Keep me from joining the wicked in doing wrong. Help me stay away from their feasts. 5 If good people correct me, I will consider it a good thing. If they criticize me, I will accept it like a warm welcome. But my prayer will always be against the wicked and the evil they do. 6 Let their judges be put to death. Then everyone will know that I told the truth. 7 Like rocks in a field that a farmer has plowed, so our bones will be scattered in the grave. 8 My Lord God, I look to you for help. I look to you for protection; don’t let me die. 9 Those evil people are trying to trap me. Don’t let me fall into their traps. 10 Let the wicked fall into their own traps, while I walk away unharmed. — Psalm 141 | Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) The Holy Bible, Easy-to-Read Version Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International.
1 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 in their calamities.
6 When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
7 Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.
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. — Psalm 141 | King James Version (KJV) The King James Version of the Holy Bible is in the public domain.