Psalms 141:2

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

Psalms 141:2 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
English Standard Version (ESV)
2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
New Living Translation (NLT)
2 Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering.
The Message Bible (MSG)
2 Treat my prayer as sweet incense rising; my raised hands are my evening prayers.
American Standard Version (ASV)
2 Let my prayer be set forth as incense before thee; The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
2 Let my prayer be accepted as sweet-smelling incense in your presence. Let the lifting up of my hands in prayer be accepted as an evening sacrifice.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
2 May my prayer be set before You as incense, the raising of my hands as the evening offering.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
2 May my prayer come to you like the sweet smell of incense. When I lift up my hands in prayer, may it be like the evening sacrifice.

Psalms 141:2 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 141:2

Let my prayer be set forth before thee [as] incense
Which was offered every morning on the altar of incense, at which time the people were praying, ( Exodus 30:1 Exodus 30:7 Exodus 30:8 ) ( Luke 1:10 ) ; and was an emblem of it, even of pure, holy, and fervent prayer; which being offered on the altar Christ, which sanctifies every gift, and by him the High Priest; through whom every sacrifice is acceptable unto God; and through whose blood and righteousness, and the sweet incense of his mediation and intercession, it becomes fragrant and a sweet odour to the Lord; and being directed to him, it goes upwards, is regarded by him, and continues before him as sweet incense; which is what the psalmist prays for; see ( Malachi 1:11 ) ( Revelation 8:3 Revelation 8:4 ) ;

[and] the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice;
the burnt sacrifice of the evening, according to Ben Melech, the lamb slain every evening; or else the minchah, as the word is; the meat, or rather the bread offering made of fine flour, with oil and frankincense on it, which went along with the former, ( Exodus 29:38-41 ) ; and so the Targum,

``as the sweet gift offered in the evening.''

This only is mentioned, as being put for both the morning and the evening sacrifice; or because the incense was offered in the morning, from which it is distinguished: or it may be, as Kimchi thinks, this psalm was composed in the evening; and so the inscription in the Syriac version is,

``a psalm of David, when he meditated the evening service.''

Or because this was the last sacrifice of the day; there was no other after it, as Aben Ezra observes; and the most acceptable; to which may be added, that this was the hour for prayer, ( Acts 3:1 ) ( 10:3 ) . Wherefore "lifting up of [the] hands" was a prayer gesture, and a very ancient one both among Jews and Gentiles F24; Aristotle F25 says, all men, when we pray, lift up our hands to heaven; and it is put for that itself, ( 1 Timothy 2:8 ) ; and is desired to be, like that, acceptable unto God; as it is when the heart is lifted up with the hands, and prayer is made in the name and faith of Christ.


FOOTNOTES:

F24 Vid. Barthii Animadv. in Claudian. ad Rufin. l. 2. v. 205.
F25 De Mundo, c. 6. Vid. Plutarch. in Vita Camilli. "Sustulit ad sidera palmas", Virgil. Aeneid. 2. so Ovid. Fasti, l. 3.

Psalms 141:2 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 3

  • 1. S Luke 1:9; Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3
  • 2. S Psalms 28:2; Psalms 63:4; 1 Timothy 2:8
  • 3. S Exodus 29:39,41; Exodus 30:8
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