Psalms

¹ I call upon You, O LORD; come quickly to me.

Hear my voice when I call to You.

² May my prayer be set before You like incense,

my uplifted hands like the evening offering.

³ Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;

keep watch at the door of my lips.

⁴ Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing

or take part in works of wickedness

with men who do iniquity;

let me not feast on their delicacies.

⁵ Let the righteous man strike me;

let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion.

It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it.

For my prayer is ever against the deeds of the wicked.

⁶ When their rulers are thrown down from the cliffs,

the people will listen to my words,

for they are pleasant.

⁷ As when one plows and breaks up the soil,

so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

⁸ But my eyes are fixed on You,

O GOD the Lord.

In You I seek refuge;

do not leave my soul defenseless. ^[a]

⁹ Keep me from the snares they have laid for me,

and from the lures of evildoers.

¹⁰ Let the wicked fall into their own nets,

while I pass by in safety.