The Psalmist prays that his prayer may be accepted as an evening sacrifice (Psalms 141:1-2); that he may be preserved from sin in word and thought and deed (Psalms 141:3-4), and welcome the reproof of the righteous rather than yield to the temptation to join the godless in their life of selfish ease... [ Continue Reading ]
_I cry unto thee_ Or, I have called upon thee (R.V.): he has already been praying, and now pleads for a speedy answer, _make haste unto me_(Psalms 70:5), i.e. make haste to help me (Psalms 22:19; Psalms 38:22; Psalms 40:13).... [ Continue Reading ]
Introductory appeal for a favourable hearing.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let my prayer be set forth_ Lit. _be prepared, set in order_. The same word is used of the service of the Temple in 2 Chronicles 29:35; 2Ch 35:10; 2 Chronicles 35:16. Or, _be presented, avail_. _incense_ Either the daily offering of incense by the priests upon the altar of incense (Exodus 30:7-8),... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Psalms 34:13; Psalms 39:1; Proverbs 13:3; Proverbs 21:23. The special point of the prayer is that he may be guarded from adopting the profane language of the ungodly men by whom he is surrounded. Cp. Psalms 73:8 ff. This verse is apparently quoted in Sir 22:27, "Who shall set a watch over my mou... [ Continue Reading ]
Prayer for grace to resist the temptation to sin in word and thought and deed.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Incline not my heart_&c. Leave me not by the withdrawal of Thy grace, to turn aside from the path of right. Cp. Psalms 119:10; Psalms 119:133. _to practise_&c. To occupy myself in wicked practices with men who are workers of iniquity. The word for _men_implies that they are men of rank and positio... [ Continue Reading ]
Let the righteous smite me, it shall be kindness: And let him reprove me, it shall be as oil for the head; Let not my head refuse it: But still let my prayer be against their evil doings. From the prayer of Psalms 141:4 it is clear that the Psalmist had felt the seductiveness of worldly luxury,... [ Continue Reading ]
When their judges have been thrown down by the sides of the cliff, They (or men) will hear my words, that they are sweet.... [ Continue Reading ]
It is not difficult to translate these verses, but it seems impossible to give any satisfactory explanation of them in their present context. They may be rendered:... [ Continue Reading ]
As when one splitteth and cleaveth (wood) upon the earth, Our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol. Precipitation from a rock was a common method of execution in ancient times (cp. 2 Chronicles 25:12; Luke 4:29), and the meaning would seem to be that when the judges or leaders of the "workers... [ Continue Reading ]
_But mine eyes_ The conjunction must be rendered For, which gives no sense in connexion with Psalms 141:7. It must introduce the reason for the prayers of Psalms 141:1, or for the resolution to continue in prayer with which Psalms 141:5 ends. The impossibility of connecting Psalms 141:8 with Psalms... [ Continue Reading ]
Concluding expression of confidence, with prayer for preservation and deliverance.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Psalms 140:4-5. _grins_ Rather, baits or lures, the sensual temptations by which they are endeavouring to entice him (Psalms 141:4). For _grins_see on Psalms 140:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
_into their own nets_ Heb. _into his own nets_, i.e. each into his own net. "The enginer" is "hoist with his own petar." For the thought that the plots of the wicked recoil upon themselves cp. Psalms 140:11; Psalms 7:15-16; Psalms 9:16. _withal escape_ Lit. _pass on_unharmed, _at the same time_as t... [ Continue Reading ]