Psalm 141

A David Psalm

^1–2141God, come close. Come quickly!

Open your ears—it’s my voice you’re hearing!

Treat my prayer as sweet incense rising;

my raised hands are my evening prayers.

^3–7Post a guard at my mouth, God,

set a watch at the door of my lips.

Don’t let me so much as dream of evil

or thoughtlessly fall into bad company.

And these people who only do wrong—

don’t let them lure me with their sweet talk!

May the Just One set me straight,

may the Kind One correct me,

Don’t let sin anoint my head.

I’m praying hard against their evil ways!

Oh, let their leaders be pushed off a high rock cliff;

make them face the music.

Like a rock pulverized by a maul,

let their bones be scattered at the gates of hell.

^8–10But God, dear Lord,

I only have eyes for you.

Since I’ve run for dear life to you,

take good care of me.

Protect me from their evil scheming,

from all their demonic subterfuge.

Let the wicked fall flat on their faces,

while I walk off without a scratch.