1Lord, 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.
6When 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.
📖 Chapter study
Summary
An evening prayer asking God to guard the psalmist's mouth from speaking evil and for his prayer to rise like incense; he would rather be corrected by a righteous man than flattered by a wicked one.
Explanation
This psalm addresses a theme uncommon among biblical prayers: a request for self-control over one's own speech and actions, rather than simply asking for deliverance from outside enemies ('set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth,' v. 3). The comparison of prayer rising 'as incense' (v. 2) points directly to the temple ritual, where incense was burned continuously as a symbol of constant prayer rising to God (see also Revelation 5:8). The application for today is recognizing that asking God for help to control one's own tongue and avoid bad company is just as valid as asking for protection from outside dangers.
Fun facts
- The image of prayer as 'incense' (v. 2) is picked up again in the New Testament in Revelation 5:8 and 8:3-4, describing the prayers of the saints rising like incense before God's throne.
- Verse 5 ('let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness') expresses a recurring wisdom value in the Bible: a friend's sincere correction is more valuable than empty praise, a theme also found in Proverbs 27:6.