Psalms 141:4

Psalms 141:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice wicked works With men who work iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies.

Context of Psalms 141:4

2May you accept my prayer like incense, my uplifted hands like the evening offering! 3O Lord, place a guard on my mouth! Protect the opening of my lips! Do not let me have evil desires, or participate in sinful activities with men who behave wickedly. I will not eat their delicacies. 5May the godly strike me in love and correct me! May my head not refuse choice oil! Indeed, my prayer is a witness against their evil deeds. 6They will be thrown down the side of a cliff by their judges. They will listen to my words, for they are pleasant.

Psalms 141:4 word by word

אַל־תַּט־לִבִּ֨י לְדָבָ֪ר׀ רָ֡ע לְהִתְע֘וֹלֵ֤ל עֲלִל֨וֹת׀ בְּרֶ֗שַׁע אֶת־אִישִׁ֥ים פֹּֽעֲלֵי־אָ֑וֶן וּבַל־אֶ֝לְחַ֗ם בְּמַנְעַמֵּיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Inclineנָטָהnâţâh · to stretchH5186
• not my heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
• thingדָּבָרdâbâr · word: becauseH1697
• to practiseעָלַל‛âlal · to abuseH5953
• wickedרֶ֫שַׁעresha‛ · wickednessH7562
• worksעֲלִילָה‛ălîylâh ‛ălilâh · wantonnessH5949
• with menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• that workפָּעַלpâ‛al · to workH6466
• iniquityאָ֫וֶן'âven · evil: wickednessH205
• and let me not eatלָחַםlâcham · to feed onH3898
• of their daintiesמַנְעַמִּיםman‛am · delicacyH4516

Cross-references for Psalms 141:4

• Psalms 119:36Give me a desire for your rules, rather than for wealth gained unjustly.
• Deuteronomy 2:30But King Sihon of Heshbon was unwilling to allow us to pass near him because the Lord our God had made him obstinate and stubborn so that he might deliver him over to you this very day.
• Deuteronomy 29:4But to this very day the Lord has not given you an understanding mind, perceptive eyes, or discerning ears!
• 1 Kings 8:58May he make us submissive, so we can follow all his instructions and obey the commandments, rules, and regulations he commanded our ancestors.
• 1 Kings 22:22He replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ The Lord said, ‘Deceive and overpower him. Go out and do as you have proposed.’
• Isaiah 63:17Why, Lord, do you make us stray from your ways, and make our minds stubborn so that we do not obey you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your inheritance!
• Matthew 6:13And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
• James 1:13Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.
• 1 Corinthians 15:33Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
• 2 Corinthians 6:17Therefore “come out from their midst, and be separate,” says the Lord, “and touch no unclean thing, and I will welcome you,
• Revelation 18:4Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, so you will not take part in her sins and so you will not receive her plagues,
• Numbers 25:2These women invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods; then the people ate and bowed down to their gods.
• Proverbs 23:1When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you,
• Daniel 1:5So the king assigned them a daily ration from his royal delicacies and from the wine he himself drank. They were to be trained for the next three years. At the end of that time they were to enter the king’s service.
• Acts 10:13Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; slaughter and eat!”
• 1 Corinthians 10:27If an unbeliever invites you to dinner and you want to go, eat whatever is served without asking questions of conscience.

Commentaries on Psalms 141:4

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Incline not my heart to any evil thing - Hebrew, to a word that is evil; that is, wrong. The connection seems to demand that the term should be thus explained. The expression “Incline not” is not designed to mean that God exerts any “positive” influence in leading the heart to that which is wrong; but it may mean “Do not place me in circumstances where I may be tempted; do not leave me to myself; do not allow any improper influence to come over me by…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. 4Do not incline my heart May my heart not be inclined toward evil.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 141:4

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Company

In the dictionaries

• Evil Thing
• Manasseh
• Dainties; Dainty (meats)
• Psalms, Book of

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