Bible Commentaries
Psalms 141

Verses 1-10

CXLI. For Loyalty to God and His Saints.

Psalms 141:1 f. The Psalmist begs Yahweh to hear his prayer. He utters this prayer in his house, and in true prophetic spirit hopes that it will be as acceptable as the incense or the evening sacrifice offered by the priest in the Temple. For similar instances of the same spiritual view, see Psalms 40, 51, Psalms 69:31. Observe that the Decalogue prescribes no ritual observance except the rest on the Sabbath.

Psalms 141:3-7 . A petition to be saved from rash words. He prefers to the dainties of the wicked the rebukes of the righteous. The words here condemned may refer to disloyal speech occasioned by the prosperity of the wicked, always a puzzle to pious Jews.

Psalms 141:4 . To be occupied in: rather “ to take part in,” “ to join in doing.”

Psalms 141:5 b – Psalms 141:7. The general sense given above is correct ( cf. Proverbs 27:6) and the RV of Psalms 141:5 may be right. At the close emend, “ And my prayer shall testify against their wickedness” : but the meaning obtained is far from satisfactory.

Psalms 141:6 . Many attempts have been made to restore the text. “ They are delivered into the hands of their judges” (men, or angel of death, or Yahweh Himself may be the agents or executors) “ and they will hear ( i.e. learn) that Yahweh’ s word is true,” is one of many conjectural emendations and interpretations.

Psalms 141:7 is still more difficult. “ As when one breaks and splits a rock (see Psalms 141:6, where nothing can be made of the word ‘ rock’ ) in the land, so are their bones scattered at (or for) the mouth of Sheol.” If this version be at all correct, the scattered bones of the enemy are compared with the splinters of a rock. The simile is forced and unnatural. Besides, Sheol was not, as a rule, the receptacle of dead bodies but of departed souls.

Psalms 141:8-10 . A prayer for deliverance and the ruin of his foes. The Psalmist’ s confidence.