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Christian prayer

Psalm 141

Psalm 141 in its original text and with its meaning, a biblical prayer for guidance and protection from wrongdoing.

  • 10 verses
  • Under a minute to recite
  • From the Bible

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  1. 1

    מִזְמ֗וֹר לְדָ֫וִ֥ד יְהוָ֣ה קְ֭רָאתִיךָ ח֣וּשָׁה לִּ֑י הַאֲזִ֥ינָה ק֝וֹלִ֗י בְּקָרְאִי־לָֽךְ׃

    A Psalm of David. LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.

  2. 2

    תִּכּ֤וֹן תְּפִלָּתִ֣י קְטֹ֣רֶת לְפָנֶ֑יךָ מַֽשְׂאַ֥ת כַּ֝פַּ֗י מִנְחַת־עָֽרֶב׃

    Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

  3. 3

    שִׁיתָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה שָׁמְרָ֣ה לְפִ֑י נִ֝צְּרָ֗ה עַל־דַּ֥ל שְׂפָתָֽי׃

    Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

  4. 4

    אַל־תַּט־לִבִּ֨י לְדָבָ֪ר ׀ רָ֡ע לְהִתְע֘וֹלֵ֤ל עֲלִל֨וֹת ׀ בְּרֶ֗שַׁע אֶת־אִישִׁ֥ים פֹּֽעֲלֵי־אָ֑וֶן וּבַל־אֶ֝לְחַ֗ם בְּמַנְעַמֵּיהֶֽם׃

    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. 5

    יֶֽהֶלְמֵֽנִי־צַדִּ֨יק ׀ חֶ֡סֶד וְֽיוֹכִיחֵ֗נִי שֶׁ֣מֶן רֹ֭אשׁ אַל־יָנִ֣י רֹאשִׁ֑י כִּי־ע֥וֹד וּ֝תְפִלָּתִ֗י בְּרָעוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃

    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. 6

    נִשְׁמְט֣וּ בִֽידֵי־סֶ֭לַע שֹׁפְטֵיהֶ֑ם וְשָׁמְע֥וּ אֲ֝מָרַ֗י כִּ֣י נָעֵֽמוּ׃

    When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.

  7. 7

    כְּמ֤וֹ פֹלֵ֣חַ וּבֹקֵ֣עַ בָּאָ֑רֶץ נִפְזְר֥וּ עֲ֝צָמֵ֗ינוּ לְפִ֣י שְׁאֽוֹל׃

    Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.

  8. 8

    כִּ֤י אֵלֶ֨יךָ ׀ יְהֹוִ֣ה אֲדֹנָ֣י עֵינָ֑י בְּכָ֥ה חָ֝סִ֗יתִי אַל־תְּעַ֥ר נַפְשִֽׁי׃

    But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.

  9. 9

    שָׁמְרֵ֗נִי מִ֣ידֵי פַ֭ח יָ֣קְשׁוּ לִ֑י וּ֝מֹקְשׁ֗וֹת פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃

    Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.

  10. 10

    יִפְּל֣וּ בְמַכְמֹרָ֣יו רְשָׁעִ֑ים יַ֥חַד אָ֝נֹכִ֗י עַֽד־אֶעֱבֽוֹר׃

    Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.

Wording: The Holy Bible, King James Version, 1611 (standard text of 1769). Copied word for word from the edition named here

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When it is prayed

Many Christians recite Psalm 141 in evening prayer, drawn to its image of prayer rising like incense and lifted hands offered as an evening sacrifice. It is also used when asking for help with careless speech, temptation or difficult company. In the tradition, it expresses a desire to receive correction and remain faithful to God.

  • Evening prayer
  • Seeking guidance
  • Facing temptation
  • Guarding speech

Where it comes from

Psalm 141 comes from the Book of Psalms in the Bible, a collection of prayers and songs inherited by Christians from Jewish scripture. Its heading attributes it to David. Originally composed in Hebrew, it has a longstanding place in Christian evening worship.

In the libraryThe King James Version of the BibleSee the book

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Questions about Psalm 141

How many verses are in Psalm 141?

Psalm 141 has 10 verses.

What is Psalm 141 about?

It asks God to hear the speaker's prayer, guard their words and keep their heart from evil. It also expresses openness to correction from the righteous and asks for protection from traps.

Why is Psalm 141 associated with evening prayer?

The psalm compares prayer to incense and the lifting of hands to an evening sacrifice. This imagery has helped give it a lasting place in Christian evening worship.

Who wrote Psalm 141?

The psalm's heading attributes it to David. That traditional attribution does not establish the exact circumstances of its composition.

How long does Psalm 141 take to recite?

It can be recited in under a minute, though a slower, reflective reading may take longer.

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