Psalm 141:3

3 Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep close watch over the door that is my lips.

Psalm 141:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 141:3

Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth
While praying, as Jarchi and Kimchi; that he might not utter any rash, unguarded, and unbecoming word; but take and use the words which God gives, even the taught words of the Holy Ghost; or lest, being under affliction and oppression, he should speak unadvisedly with his lips, and utter any impatient murmuring and repining word against God; or express any fretfulness at the prosperity of the wicked, or speak evil of them; especially of Saul, the Lord's anointed, for the ill usage of him; keep the door of my lips;
which are as a door that opens and shuts: this he desires might be kept as with a bridle, especially while the wicked were before him; lest he should say anything they would use against him, and to the reproach of religion; and that no corrupt communication, or any foolish and filthy talk, or idle and unprofitable words, might proceed from them. The phrase signifies the same as the other; he was sensible of his own inability to keep a proper watch and guard over his words, as was necessary, and therefore prays the Lord to do it; see ( Psalms 39:1 ) .

Psalm 141:3 In-Context

1 I cry out to you, LORD: Come to me—quickly! Listen to my voice when I cry out to you!

2 Let my prayer stand before you like incense; let my uplifted hands be like the evening offering.

3 Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep close watch over the door that is my lips.

4 Don't let my heart turn aside to evil things so that I don't do wicked things with evildoers, so I don't taste their delicacies.

5 Instead, let the righteous discipline me; let the faithful correct me! Let my head never reject that kind of fine oil, because my prayers are always against the deeds of the wicked.