Psalms 141
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Psalms chapter 141 is given here in full, verse by verse, in Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), with the Greek text of the Septuagint set beneath each verse. The text follows the Septuagint tradition received throughout the Orthodox Church.
7 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint Augustine of Hippo.
Psalms 141
1(142) A Psalm of instruction for David, when he was in the cave, —a Prayer.Συνέσεως τῷ Δαυὶδ, ἐν τῷ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ σπηλαίῳ, προσευχή.
2I cried to the Lord with my voice; with my voice I made supplication to the Lord.Φωνῇ μου πρὸς Κύριον ἐκέκραξα, φωνῇ μου πρὸς Κύριον ἐδεήθην.
3I will pour out before him my supplication: I will declare before him my affliction.Ἐκχεῶ ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ τὴν δέησίν μου, τὴν θλίψιν μου ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ἀπαγγελῶ.
4When my spirit was fainting within me, then you knew my paths; in the very way wherein I was walking, they hid a snare for me.Ἐν τῷ ἐκλείπειν ἐξ ἐμοῦ τὸ πνεῦμά μου, καὶ σὺ ἔγνως τὰς τρίβους μου· ἐν ὁδῷ ταύτῃ ᾗ ἐπορευόμην, ἔκρυψαν παγίδα μοι.
5I looked on my right hand, and behold, for there was none that noticed me; refuge failed me; and there was none that cared for my soul.Κατενόουν εἰς τὰ δεξιὰ καὶ ἐπέβλεπον, ὅτι οὐκ ἦν ὁ ἐπιγινώσκων με· ἀπώλετο φυγὴ ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ ἐκζητῶν τὴν ψυχήν μου.
6I cried to you, O Lord, and said, You are my hope, my portion in the land of the living.Πρὸς σὲ, Κύριε, ἐκέραξα, καὶ εἶπα, σὺ εἶ ἡ ἐλπίς μου, μερίς μου ἐν γῇ ζώντων.
7Attend to my supplication, for I am brought very low; deliver me from them that persecute me; for they are stronger than I.Πρόσχες πρὸς τὴν δέησίν μου, ὅτι ἐταπεινώθην σφόδρα· ῥῦσαί με ἐκ τῶν καταδιωκόντων με, ὅτι ἐκραταιώθησαν ὑπὲρ ἐμέ.
8Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name, O Lord; the righteous shall wait for me, until you recompense me.Ἐξάγαγε ἐκ φυλακῆς τὴν ψυχήν μου, τοῦ ἐξομολογήσασθαι τῷ ὀνόματί σου, Κύριε· ἐμὲ ὑπομενοῦσι δίκαιοι, ἕως οὗ ἀνταποδῷς μοι.
The Fathers on Psalms 141
Saint Augustine of Hippo comments on this chapter. Each excerpt below is drawn from the full text held in the Fathers Library; follow the link on any entry to read the whole work.
On Psalms 141:2Saint Augustine of Hippo1. …“With my voice have I cried unto the Lord” (ver. 1). It were enough to say, “with voice:” not for nothing perhaps has “my” been added. For many cry unto the Lord, not with their own voice, but with the voice of their body. Let the “inner man” then, in whom “Christ” hath begun to “dwell by faith,” cry unto the Lord, not with the din of his lips, but with the affection of his heart. God heareth not, where man…
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On Psalms 141:3Saint Augustine of Hippo2. “I will pour out before Him my prayer” (ver. 2). What is, “before Him”? In His sight. What is, in His sight? Where He seeth. But where doth He not see? For so do we say, ‘where He seeth,’ as though somewhere He seeth not. But in this assemblage of bodily substances men too see, animals too see: He seeth where man seeth not. For thy thoughts no man seeth, but God seeth. There then pour out thy prayer, where He…
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On Psalms 141:4Saint Augustine of Hippo3. “My tribulation I will proclaim in His sight.” There is a repetition, both in the two preceding sentences, and in these which follow: the sentiments are two, but both twice expressed.…For, “in His sight,” is the same as “before Him;” “I will proclaim my tribulation,” is the same as, “I will pour out my prayer.” When doest thou this? Being set in the midst of persecution, he saith, “while my spirit failed from…
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On Psalms 141:5Saint Augustine of Hippo5. “I considered upon the right hand, and saw” (ver. 4). He considered upon the right hand, and saw: whoso considereth upon the left hand, is blinded. What is to consider on the right hand? Where they will be to whom shall be said, “Come, ye blessed of My Father,” etc.,…He goeth on to say, “and there was none that knew me.” For when thou fearest all things, who knoweth what thou regardest, whether thou directest…
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On Psalms 141:6Saint Augustine of Hippo6. “Unto thee have I cried, O Lord: I have said, Thou art my hope” (ver. 5). When I endured, when I was in tribulation, “I said, Thou art my hope.” My hope here, therefore I endure. But “my portion,” not here, but “in the land of the living.” God giveth a portion in the land of the living; but not something from Himself without Himself. What will He give to one that loveth Him, save Himself?
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On Psalms 141:8Saint Augustine of Hippo7. “Give heed unto my prayer, for much have I been humbled” (ver. 6). Humbled by persecutors, humbled in confession. He humbleth himself out of the sight of man: he is humbled by enemies in their sight. Therefore is he lifted up by Him both visibly and invisibly. Invisibly are the martyrs already lifted up; visibly shall they be lifted up, “when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption” in the resurrection…
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On Psalms 141:8Open Psalms 141 in the interactive reader Switch translations, hear the chapter read aloud, tap any verse for its patristic commentary, and study the Greek word by word.Saint Augustine of Hippo8. “Bring forth my soul out of prison, that it may confess to Thy Name” (ver. 7). This “prison” has been variously understood by former writers. And perhaps it is the prison which is called in the title, “the cave.” For the title of this Psalm runneth thus: “Of understanding to David himself, a prayer when he was in the cave.” That which is the cave, the same is also the prison. Two things have we set before us…
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