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Psalm 141

Prayer for Preservation from Evil

A Psalm of David.
¹ I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me;
   give ear to my voice when I call to you.
² Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
   and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.

³ Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;
   keep watch over the door of my lips.
⁴ Do not turn my heart to any evil,
   to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with those who work iniquity;
   do not let me eat of their delicacies.

⁵ Let the righteous strike me;
   let the faithful correct me.
Never let the oil of the wicked anoint my head,^*
   for my prayer is continually^* against their wicked deeds.
⁶ When they are given over to those who shall condemn them,
   then they shall learn that my words were pleasant.
⁷ Like a rock that one breaks apart and shatters on the land,
   so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol.^*

⁸ But my eyes are turned towards you, O God, my Lord;
   in you I seek refuge; do not leave me defenceless.
⁹ Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me,
   and from the snares of evildoers.
¹⁰ Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
   while I alone escape.