Christian Standard Bible
Psalms 141:5
5Let the righteous one strike me — it is an act of faithful love; let him rebuke me — it is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. Even now my prayer is against the evil acts of the wicked.
Psalms 141:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked.
Context of Psalms 141:5
3Lord, set up a guard for my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips. 4Do not let my heart turn to any evil thing or perform wicked acts with evildoers. Do not let me feast on their delicacies. Let the righteous one strike me — it is an act of faithful love; let him rebuke me — it is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. Even now my prayer is against the evil acts of the wicked. 6When their rulers will be thrown off the sides of a cliff, the people will listen to my words, for they are pleasing. 7As when one plows and breaks up the soil, turning up rocks, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol.
Read all of Psalms 141Psalms 141:5 word by word
יֶֽהֶלְמֵֽנִי־צַדִּ֨יק׀ חֶ֡סֶד וְֽיוֹכִיחֵ֗נִי שֶׁ֣מֶן רֹ֭אשׁ אַל־יָנִ֣י רֹאשִׁ֑י כִּי־ע֥וֹד וּ֝תְפִלָּתִ֗י בְּרָעוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Let the righteousצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
- smiteהָלַםhâlam · to smiteH1986
- a kindnessחֶ֫סֶדchêsêd · kindnessH2617
- and let him reproveיָכַחyâkach · to rebukeH3198
- an excellentרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218
- oilשֶׁ֫מֶןshemen · oilH8081
- shall not breakנוּאnû' · to forbidH5106
- for yet my prayerתְּפִלָּהtephillâh · prayerH8605
- in their calamitiesרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
Cross-references for Psalms 141:5
- 1 Samuel 25:31there will not be remorse or a troubled conscience for my lord because of needless bloodshed or my lord’s revenge. And when the Lord does good things for my lord, may you remember me your servant.”
- 2 Samuel 12:7Nathan replied to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from Saul.
- 2 Chronicles 16:7At that time, the seer Hanani came to King Asa of Judah and said to him, “Because you depended on the king of Aram and have not depended on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from you.
- 2 Chronicles 25:16While he was still speaking to him, the king asked, “Have we made you the king’s counselor? Stop, why should you lose your life?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God intends to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my advice.”
- Proverbs 6:23For a command is a lamp, teaching is a light, and corrective discipline is the way to life.
- Proverbs 9:8Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke the wise, and he will love you.
- Proverbs 15:5A fool despises his father’s discipline, but a person who accepts correction is sensible.
- Proverbs 19:25Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson; rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge.
- Proverbs 25:12A wise correction to a receptive ear is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold.
- Proverbs 27:5Better an open reprimand than concealed love.
- Galatians 2:11But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned.
- Galatians 6:1Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted.
- Revelation 3:19As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be zealous and repent.
- Psalms 51:18In your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem.
- Psalms 125:4Do what is good, Lord, to the good, to those whose hearts are upright.
- Matthew 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Commentaries on Psalms 141:5
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Let the righteous smite me - This verse is exceedingly difficult and obscure (compare the margin); and there have been almost as many different opinions in regard to its meaning as there have been commentators on the psalm. A large number of these opinions may be seen in Rosenmuller in loc. DeWette explains it, “I gladly suffer anything that is unpleasant from my friends, that may be for my good; but the wickedness of my enemies I cannot endure.” The…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-10Verses 5-10 We should be ready to welcome the rebuke of our heavenly Father, and also the reproof of our brethren. It shall not break my head, if it may but help to break my heart: we must show that we take it kindly. Those who slighted the word of God before, will be glad of it when in affliction, for that opens the ear to instruction. When the world is bitter, the word is sweet. Let us lift our prayer unto God. Let us entreat him to rescue us from the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-5Wisdom sometimes requires protection from oneself. People might say or think things that lead to a harmful path (Proverbs 13:3; 21:23). Wisdom accepts correction from godly people (see Proverbs 3:11; 9:8; 15:31; 19:25).Read the comment
- Rashi on Tanakh · v. 5May a righteous man strike me with kindness and reprove me It is better that a true and righteous prophet reprove me and chastise me, for all his blows and his reproof are kindness.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 141:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 141
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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