Christianity

Psalms 141Prayer Set Forth as Incense

Summary

Psalm 141, attributed to David, is an evening prayer asking that the psalmist's prayer rise before God as incense and the lifting up of his hands as the evening sacrifice. He asks God to set a watch before his mouth and keep the door of his lips, and not to let his heart incline to evil or share the dainties of evildoers. He welcomes the rebuke of the righteous as a kindness, and keeps his eyes on God while asking escape from the snares laid for him.

Key verse

“Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”

Psalms 141:2

Themes

Evening Prayer
Guarding Speech
Resisting Temptation
Accepting Correction

Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.

Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

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

Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.

When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.

Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.

But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.

Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.

Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

Christianity
Revelation 8: The Prayers of the Saints
Revelation 8:3 to 4 pictures the prayers of the saints rising before God with the smoke of incense, the image Psalm 141:2 uses for prayer.
Christianity
Exodus 30: Incense Morning and Evening
Exodus 30:7 to 8 commands Aaron to burn incense on the golden altar each morning and evening, the temple practice behind the psalmist's request.

Questions about Psalms 141

Why is Psalm 141 used at evening prayer?

Because it asks that prayer rise like incense and lifted hands be like the evening sacrifice, Psalm 141 became a traditional vespers psalm. In Eastern Orthodox vespers it is sung while incense is offered, among the psalms beginning Lord, I have cried.

What does 'set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth' mean?

Psalm 141:3 asks God to post a guard at the psalmist's mouth and keep the door of his lips. It is a prayer for help in controlling speech, recognizing that words can lead to sin.