Psalm 141 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 141:4, 141:5
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
Psalm 141
Prayer, disciplined speech, and escape
Verse 141:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[141:1] A psalm of David.
YHWH, I called You; hurry to me.
Listen to my voice when I call You.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[140:1] A psalm for David.
Lord, I have cried to You; hear me.
Attend to the voice of my petition when I cry to You.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew hurry to me differs from Greek hear me; Greek explicitly names petition in its second request.
Verse 141:2 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[141:2] Let my prayer be set as incense before You,
the lifting of my palms as an evening offering.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[140:2] Let my prayer be directed as incense before You,
the lifting of my hands as an evening sacrifice.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The prayer/incense and raised-hands/evening-offering images correspond. Hebrew minchah is offering, Greek thysia sacrifice; no unprinted sacrificial substance is added.
Verse 141:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[141:3] Set a guard, YHWH, for my mouth,
a watch over the door of my lips.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[140:3] Set a guard, Lord, for my mouth
and a restraining door around my lips.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew a watch over a door differs from Greek a door of enclosure; both concern guarded speech.
Verse 141:4 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[141:4] Do not incline my heart toward an evil matter,
to practice wicked deeds with people who work iniquity;
let me not eat of their delicacies.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[140:4] Do not turn my heart toward words of wickedness,
to offer excuses for sins with people who practice lawlessness,
and I will certainly not join with their chosen ones.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek excuses for sins differs from Hebrew practicing wicked deeds, and Greek joining chosen people differs from Hebrew eating delicacies. The distinct conduct and social imagery are retained.
Verse 141:5 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[141:5] Let a righteous man strike me—it is kindness; let him correct me.
It is oil for the head; let my head not refuse it.
For still my prayer is amid their evils.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[140:5] A righteous man will discipline me in mercy and correct me,
but let a sinner’s oil not enrich my head,
for still my prayer is amid their good pleasures.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew welcomes righteous correction as head-oil; Greek rejects a sinner’s oil. Hebrew amid their evils and Greek amid their good pleasures differ sharply, with the final referents and relation unresolved. The fragmented Hebrew oil syntax is rendered provisionally, not reconstructed from Greek.
Verse 141:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[141:6] Their judges slipped down the sides of a rock,
and they will hear my sayings, for they are pleasant.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[140:6] Their judges were swallowed up beside a rock;
they will hear my words, for they became sweet.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew falling or being cast down at the rock’s sides differs from Greek being swallowed nearby. Who will hear and the setting of the abrupt image remain unresolved; no narrative has been added.
Verse 141:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[141:7] As when one plows and splits the earth,
our bones were scattered at Sheol’s mouth.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[140:7] Like a clod of earth broken upon the earth,
our bones were scattered beside Hades.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew a plowing/splitting actor differs from Greek a broken mass of soil. Hebrew at Sheol’s mouth differs from Greek beside Hades; the grim bones image is preserved.
Verse 141:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[141:8] For my eyes are toward You, YHWH, my Lord;
in You I take refuge—do not pour out my life.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[140:8] For my eyes are toward You, Lord, Lord;
in You I hoped—do not take away my soul.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew refuge and pouring out life differs from Greek hope and taking away soul. The Hebrew title sequence and Greek doubled Lord are kept as printed.
Verse 141:9 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[141:9] Keep me from the trap’s grasp that they laid for me,
and from the snares of workers of iniquity.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[140:9] Guard me from the trap they assembled for me
and from the stumbling blocks of those practicing lawlessness.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Hebrew hands of the trap is rendered its grasp; Greek lacks this personification. The traps and obstacles otherwise correspond.
Verse 141:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[141:10] Let the wicked fall together into his nets,
while I pass by.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[140:10] Sinners will fall into his casting net;
I am alone until I pass by.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew together is provisionally attached to the falling wicked, while Greek explicitly says I am alone. The owner of his nets is unspecified in both. Hebrew’s compressed together/I/until sequence permits other construals and requires review.