Psalm 141:3

3 Set a guard, O Yahweh, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of 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 call on you, O Yahweh; hasten to me. Listen to my voice when I call to you.

2 Let my prayer be set before you [as] incense, the lifting up of my palms [as the] evening offering.

3 Set a guard, O Yahweh, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.

4 Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked deeds with men [who] do iniquity; and do not let me eat of their delicacies.

5 Let a righteous one strike me in kindness, and let him chasten me. [It is] oil for [my] head; let not my head refuse. For still my prayer [is] against their evil deeds.