Psalm 141:1

An Evening Prayer for Sanctification and Protection.

1 O LORD, I call upon You; ¹hasten to me! ²Give ear to my voice when I call to You!

Psalm 141:1 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 141:1

Lord, I cry unto thee
With great earnestness, importunity, and fervency, being in distress; and knowing vain was the help of man, and that none could deliver him but the Lord, and therefore continued crying unto him for help ^F23; make haste unto me;
which shows he was in a desperate condition; that he could not help himself, nor could any creature, only the Lord; and he was at a distance from him, as it seemed to him, and he delayed assistance; and therefore desires he would immediately draw nigh and be a present help in his time of need, and work speedy deliverance for him, his case requiring haste; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee;
a request the psalmist frequently makes, not contenting himself with prayer, without desiring and looking for an answer to it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F23 "Auxilium vocat, et duros conclamat agrestes", Virgil.

Psalm 141:1 In-Context

1 O LORD , I call upon You; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to You!

2 May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.

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

4 Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice deeds of wickedness With men who do iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies.

5 Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head; Do not let my head refuse it, For still my prayer is against their wicked deeds.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 22:19; Psalms 38:22; Psalms 70:5
• 2. Psalms 5:1; Psalms 143:1