Psalm 141:3

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

Psalm 141:3 in Other Translations

3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

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

3 Take control of what I say, O LORD, and guard my lips.

3 Post a guard at my mouth, God, set a watch at the door of my lips.

3 Set a watch, O Jehovah, before my mouth; Keep the door of my lips.

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

3 Lord, set up a guard for my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.

3 Lord, guard 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 to you, LORD, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you.

2 May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

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

4 Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies.

5 Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

Cross References

• 1. S Psalms 34:13; James 1:26; James 3:8
• 2. S Psalms 12:2