New Living Translation
Psalms 141:5
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.
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
3Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips. 4Don’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. 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. 6When their leaders are thrown down from a cliff, the wicked will listen to my words and find them true. 7Like rocks brought up by a plow, the bones of the wicked will lie scattered without burial.
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 25:31don’t let this be a blemish on your record. Then your conscience won’t have to bear the staggering burden of needless bloodshed and vengeance. And when the Lord has done these great things for you, please remember me, your servant!”
- 2 Samuel 12:7Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! The Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul.
- 2 Chronicles 16:7At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa and told him, “Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the Lord your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram.
- 2 Chronicles 25:16But the king interrupted him and said, “Since when have I made you the king’s counselor? Be quiet now before I have you killed!” So the prophet stopped with this warning: “I know that God has determined to destroy you because you have done this and have refused to accept my counsel.”
- Proverbs 6:23For their command is a lamp and their instruction a light; their corrective discipline is the way to life.
- Proverbs 9:8So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you.
- Proverbs 15:5Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise.
- Proverbs 19:25If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson; if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser.
- Proverbs 25:12To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.
- Proverbs 27:5An open rebuke is better than hidden love!
- Galatians 2:11But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong.
- Galatians 6:1Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.
- Revelation 3:19I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.
- Psalms 51:18Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
- Psalms 125:4O Lord, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with you.
- Matthew 5:44But I say, love your enemies! 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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