The big picture
Psalms 141 opens in verse 1 with “LORD , I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 5 with “Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be…”, and closes in verse 10 with “Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, iniquity, keep, mouth, prayer. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 10Psalms 141:1-5
1–5: LORD , I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when…
Psalms 141:1–5 opens with “LORD , I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.” and reaches “Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, prayer, break.
Context that brings the passage to life
“LORD , I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.” The line’s distinctive content terms include haste, LORD, voice. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
Psalms 141:1-5
King James Version1LORD , I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
2Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
3Set a watch, O LORD , before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
4Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
5Let 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.
Psalms 141:6-10
6–10: When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my…
Psalms 141:6–10 opens with “When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.” and reaches “Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by bones, cleaveth, cutteth.
Context that brings the passage to life
“When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Psalms 141:6-10
King James Version6When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
7Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.
8But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.
9Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 141:1 begins with “LORD , I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 141:8 forms a natural hinge: “But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.”
The final note
Psalms 141:10 leaves the reader with “Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, iniquity, keep, mouth, prayer, wicked help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.