Psalms 141:2
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Let my prayer be set forth before you as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
American King James Version (AKJV)
Let my prayer be set forth before you as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Let my prayer be set forth as incense before thee; The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Let my prayer be ordered before you like a sweet smell; and let the lifting up of my hands be like the evening offering.
Webster's Revision
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
World English Bible
Let my prayer be set before you like incense; the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice.
English Revised Version (ERV)
Let my prayer be set forth as incense before thee; the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Definitions for Psalms 141:2
Clarke's Psalms 141:2 Bible Commentary
As incense - Incense was offered every morning and evening before the Lord, on the golden altar, before the veil of the sanctuary. Exodus 29:39, and Numbers 28:4.
As the evening sacrifice - This was a burnt-offering, accompanied with flour and salt. But it does not appear that David refers to any sacrifice, for he uses not זבח zebach, which is almost universally used for a slaughtered animal; but מנחה minchah, which is generally taken for a gratitude-offering or unbloody sacrifice. The literal translation of the passage is, "Let my prayer be established for incense before thy faces; and the lifting up of my hands for the evening oblation." The psalmist appears to have been at this time at a distance from the sanctuary, and therefore could not perform the Divine worship in the way prescribed by the law. What could he do? Why, as he could not worship according to the letter of the law, he will worship God according to the spirit; then prayer is accepted in the place of incense; and the lifting up of his hands, in gratitude and self-dedication to God, is accepted in the place of the evening minchah or oblation. Who can deplore the necessity that obliged the psalmist to worship God in this way?
Barnes's Psalms 141:2 Bible Commentary
Let my prayer be set forth before thee - Margin, "directed." The Hebrew word means to fit; to establish; to make firm. The psalmist desires that his prayer should not be like that which is feeble, languishing, easily dissipated, but that it should be like that which is firm and secure.
As incense - See the notes and illustrations at Luke 1:9-10. Let my prayer come before thee in such a manner as incense does when it is offered in worship; in a manner of which the ascending of incense is a suitable emblem. See the notes at Revelation 5:8; notes at Revelation 8:3.
And the lifting up of my hands - In prayer; a natural posture in that act of worship.
As the evening sacrifice - The sacrifice offered on the altar at evening. Let my prayer be as acceptable as that is when it is offered in a proper manner.
