God’s Word Translation
Psalms 141:5
5A righteous person may strike me or correct me out of kindness. It is like lotion for my head. My head will not refuse it, because my prayer is directed against evil deeds.
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
3O Lord, set a guard at my mouth. Keep watch over the door of my lips. 4Do not let me be persuaded to do anything evil or to become involved with wickedness, with people who are troublemakers. Do not let me taste their delicacies. A righteous person may strike me or correct me out of kindness. It is like lotion for my head. My head will not refuse it, because my prayer is directed against evil deeds. 6When their judges are thrown off a cliff, they will listen to what I have to say. It will sound pleasant ⌞to them⌟. 7As someone plows and breaks up the ground, so our bones will be planted at the mouth of the grave.
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 25:31you shouldn’t have a troubled conscience because you spilled blood for no good reason and claimed your own victory. When the Lord has given you success, remember me.”
- 2 Samuel 12:7“You are the man!” Nathan told David. “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: I anointed you king over Israel and 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 Syria and did not depend on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped your grasp.
- 2 Chronicles 25:16As he was talking, the king asked him, “Did we make you an adviser to the king? Stop! Do you want me to have you killed?” The prophet stopped. He said, “I know that God has decided to destroy you because you did this, but you refuse to listen to my advice.”
- Proverbs 6:23because the command is a lamp, the teachings are a light, and the warnings from discipline are the path of life
- Proverbs 9:8Do not warn a mocker, or he will hate you. Warn a wise person, and he will love you.
- Proverbs 15:5A stubborn fool despises his father’s discipline, but whoever appreciates a warning shows good sense.
- Proverbs 19:25Strike a mocker, and a gullible person may learn a lesson. Warn an understanding person, and he will gain more knowledge.
- Proverbs 25:12⌞Like⌟ a gold ring and a fine gold ornament, ⌞so⌟ is constructive criticism to the ear of one who listens.
- Proverbs 27:5Open criticism is better than unexpressed love.
- Galatians 2:11When Cephas came to Antioch, I had to openly oppose him because he was completely wrong.
- Galatians 6:1Brothers and sisters, if a person gets trapped by wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should help that person turn away from doing wrong. Do it in a gentle way. At the same time watch yourself so that you also are not tempted.
- Revelation 3:19I correct and discipline everyone I love. Take this seriously, and change the way you think and act.
- Psalms 51:18Favor Zion with your goodness. Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
- Psalms 125:4Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, to those whose motives are decent.
- Matthew 5:44But I tell you this: 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries