Guard My Mouth
Study note
David calls on God to come quickly. May his prayer rise like incense and his lifted hands like an evening sacrifice. He asks God to set a guard over his mouth and keep his heart from being drawn to evil.
1 LORD, I am calling out to you — please hurry! Listen to me when I call. LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
2 Let my prayer float up to you like sweet incense, and let my lifted hands be like an evening offering. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
3 LORD, put a guard over my mouth. Stand watch at the door of my lips. Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
4 Do not let my heart be pulled toward anything evil. Do not let me join in wicked actions with people who do wrong. Keep me from enjoying their fancy treats. 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.
Righteous Correction Is a Kindness
Study note
Let a righteous person strike me — it is a kindness. Let them correct me — it is like oil on my head. David will not refuse it. But he still prays against the deeds of the wicked.
5 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. 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 When their leaders are thrown down from the cliffs, the people will finally listen to my words and see they were true. When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
7 Like soil broken up by the plow, our bones lie scattered at the edge of the grave. Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.
My Eyes Are on You, Lord
Study note
David's eyes are fixed on the Lord God. He takes refuge in God and asks not to be left defenseless. Let the wicked fall into their own nets while David passes by safely.
8 But my eyes are looking to you, LORD God. You are my safe place — do not let me die. But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.
9 Keep me away from the traps they have set for me and from the snares of people who do evil. Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
10 Let wicked people fall right into their own traps while I walk past and get through safely. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.