Psalm 141

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 141:7

Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth ,.... Into which they were not suffered to be put, but lay unburied; or from whence they were dug up, and lay scattered about; which is to be understood of such of David's friends as fell into the hands of Saul and his men, and were slain: perhaps it may refer to the fourscore and five priests, and the inhabitants of Nob, slain by the order of Saul, 1 Samuel 22:18 . Though the phrase may be only proverbial, and be expressive of the danger David... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 141:8

But mine eyes are unto thee, O God the Lord ,.... Not only the eyes of his body, lifted up to God in prayer, this being a prayer gesture, John 11:41 ; but the eyes of his mind, or understanding, especially the eyes of faith and love; for it is expressive of his affection to God, his holy confidence in him, and humble hope and expectation of good things from him, in this his time of distress: his eyes were to him and him only, both for temporal food for himself and his men; and for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 141:9

Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me ,.... Either Saul, who gave him a wife to be a snare to him, and set men to watch his house and take him; or the Ziphites, who proposed to Saul to deliver him into his hands; see 1 Samuel 18:21 . and the gins of the workers of iniquity ; the transgressions of wicked men are snares to others, by way of example; and so are the doctrines of false teachers, and the temptations of Satan, from all which good men desire to be kept, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 141:10

Let the wicked fall into their own nets ,.... Which they have laid for others, as they very often do; see Psalm 7:15 ; or "into his net" F11 במכמריו "in retiacula ejus", Pagninus, Montanus; "in retia ejus", Vatablus, Cocceius; so Ainsworth. , either Saul into his own net, and others with him, so Kimchi and Ben Melech; or the wicked into the net which God has laid for them; see Ezekiel 12:13 ; whilst that I withal escape ; or "whilst I together escape", or "pass over" F12 ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 141

The psalmist prays that his devotions may be accepted, Psalm 141:1 , Psalm 141:2 . That he may be enabled so to watch that he do not offend with his tongue; and that he may be preserved from wickedness, Psalm 141:3 , Psalm 141:4 . His willingness to receive reproof, Psalm 141:5 . He complains of disasters, Psalm 141:6 , Psalm 141:7 . His trust in God, and prayer against his enemies, Psalm 141:8-10 . This Psalm is generally attributed to David, and considered to have been... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 141:1

Lord, I cry unto thee - Many of David's Psalms begin with complaints; but they are not those of habitual plaint and peevishness. He was in frequent troubles and difficulties, and he always sought help in God. He ever appears in earnest; at no time is there any evidence that the devotion of David was formal. He prayed, meditated, supplicated, groaned, cried, and even roared, as he tells us, for the disquietude of his soul. He had speedy answers; for he had much faith, and was always in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 141:2

As incense - Incense was offered every morning and evening before the Lord, on the golden altar, before the veil of the sanctuary. Exodus 29:39 , and Numbers 28:4 . As the evening sacrifice - This was a burnt-offering, accompanied with flour and salt. But it does not appear that David refers to any sacrifice, for he uses not זבח zebach , which is almost universally used for a slaughtered animal; but מנחה minchah , which is generally taken for a gratitude-offering or unbloody... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 141:3

Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth - While there are so many spies on my actions and words, I have need to be doubly guarded, that my enemies may have no advantage against me. Some think the prayer is against impatience; but if he were now going to Gath, it is more natural to suppose that he was praying to be preserved from dishonoring the truth, and from making sinful concessions in a heathen land; and at a court where, from his circumstances, it was natural to suppose he might be tempted... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 141:4

Let me eat not of their dainties - This may refer either to eating things forbidden by the law; or to the partaking in banquets or feasts in honor of idols. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 141:5

Let the righteous smite me - This verse is extremely difficult in the original. The following translation, in which the Syriac, Vulgate, Septuagint, Ethiopic, and Arabic nearly agree, appears to me to be the best: "Let the righteous chastise me in mercy, and instruct me: but let not the oil of the wicked anoint my head. It shall not adorn ( יני yani , from נוה navah ) my head; for still my prayer shall be against their wicked works." The oil of the wicked may here mean his smooth... read more

Group of Brands