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

2Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering. 3Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips. Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong. 5Let 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. 6When their leaders are thrown down from a cliff, the wicked will listen to my words and find them true.

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 an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money!
• Deuteronomy 2:30“But King Sihon of Heshbon refused to allow us to pass through, because the Lord your God made Sihon stubborn and defiant so he could help you defeat him, as he has now done.
• Deuteronomy 29:4But to this day the Lord has not given you minds that understand, nor eyes that see, nor ears that hear!
• 1 Kings 8:58May he give us the desire to do his will in everything and to obey all the commands, decrees, and regulations that he gave our ancestors.
• 1 Kings 22:22“‘How will you do this?’ the Lord asked. “And the spirit replied, ‘I will go out and inspire all of Ahab’s prophets to speak lies.’ “‘You will succeed,’ said the Lord. ‘Go ahead and do it.’
• Isaiah 63:17Lord, why have you allowed us to turn from your path? Why have you given us stubborn hearts so we no longer fear you? Return and help us, for we are your servants, the tribes that are your special possession.
• Matthew 6:13And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
• James 1:13And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.
• 1 Corinthians 15:33Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”
• 2 Corinthians 6:17Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.
• Revelation 18:4Then I heard another voice calling from heaven, “Come away from her, my people. Do not take part in her sins, or you will be punished with her.
• Numbers 25:2These women invited them to attend sacrifices to their gods, so the Israelites feasted with them and worshiped the gods of Moab.
• Proverbs 23:1While dining with a ruler, pay attention to what is put before you.
• Daniel 1:5The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service.
• Acts 10:13Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”
• 1 Corinthians 10:27If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising 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