New King James Version
Psalms 141:5
5Let 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.
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 Living Translation (NLT)Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they correct me, it is soothing medicine. Don’t let me refuse it. But I pray constantly against the wicked and their deeds.
Context of Psalms 141:5
3Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. 4Do 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. 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. 6Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the cliff, And they hear my words, for they are sweet. 7Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave, As when one plows and breaks up the earth.
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 25:31that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. But when the Lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your maidservant.”
- 2 Samuel 12:7Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
- 2 Chronicles 16:7And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand.
- 2 Chronicles 25:16So it was, as he talked with him, that the king said to him, “Have we made you the king’s counselor? Cease! Why should you be killed?” Then the prophet ceased, and said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”
- Proverbs 6:23For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
- Proverbs 9:8Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
- Proverbs 15:5A fool despises his father’s instruction, But he who receives correction is prudent.
- Proverbs 19:25Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.
- Proverbs 25:12Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear.
- Proverbs 27:5Open rebuke is better Than love carefully concealed.
- Galatians 2:11Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed;
- Galatians 6:1Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
- Revelation 3:19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
- Psalms 51:18Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem.
- Psalms 125:4Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, And to those who are upright in their hearts.
- Matthew 5:44But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries