The Psalmist therefore here prays that God would be pleased to disappoint their counsels and purposes, and all the wicked plots which they form, and devise, and to turn them on themselves and on their own heads; that all these enemies of the people of God may perish with that horrible judgment with which Pharaoh perished in the Red Sea, who, being at the same time struck with lightning from heaven, and overwhelmed with the waves of the sea, was utterly destroyed. This Psalm affords an abundant consolation to the godly; as the Psalmist saith in its conclusion, “The wicked shall fall into their own nets, whilst that I at all times escape.” PSALM CXLI. _David prayeth that his suit may be acceptable, his conscience sincere, and his life safe from snares._ A Psalm of David. LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth before thee _as_ incense; _and_ the lifting up of my hands _as_ the evening sacrifice. Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. 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. 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. When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet. Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth _wood_ upon the earth. But mine eyes _are_ unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute. Keep me from the snares _which_ they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape. This Psalm also is a fervent prayer, wherein the Psalmist prays to be delivered from wicked teachers, who pretend to speak of peace, and craftily use soft and flattering words, after they have found that they can prevail nothing by terrors and threats. “Let the righteous,” saith he, “smite me:” that is, I had rather that true and faithful teachers should rebuke and condemn me, and reprove my ways, than that hypocrites should flatter me and applaud me as a saint.