Chapter 140

And this psalm is similar to the previous one, except that it is more instructive. Ps.140:1. Lord, I have called to You, hear me: listen to the voice of my prayer, so that I may always cry to You. The appeal means, without a doubt, the intensity of thought. David says: graciously accept my request, O Master. Ps.140:2. May my prayer be corrected like incense before You. He compares thoughts to fragrant incense, because they are subtle and are offered to God with one mind. Lifting up my hand, evening sacrifice. And he likens the deeds represented by the image of hands to a sacrifice, because they seem to have more virtue in comparison with mental offerings. He says: “evening sacrifice,” because one must practice good deeds to the end. Ps.140:3. Lord, put a guard over my mouth, and a guard over my mouth. Because he knows that maintaining a language is a great thing; then asks God to grant him the strength to control his tongue. Ps.140:4. Do not turn my heart into words of deceit. That is, do not allow my mind, once well prepared, to deviate into the opposite, and for me to have lawless thoughts. Ps.140:5. The righteous will punish me with mercy and reprove me. I will willingly accept any admonition from a righteous person, but from a sinner I will not accept blessings and caresses, with which they anoint my head like oil. For my prayer is also in their favor. Ps.140:6. The sacrifices of Bysha [v] at the stone of their judge. If they are near the stone, they will be swallowed up. He makes it clear that Christ himself will plunge them into the abyss. My words will be heard as if they were delighted. The consequence of what he predicted was that “my words” would be recognized as true and decent. Ps.140:7. Like the thickness of the earth has sagged onto the earth. We have destroyed everything that was earthly in us, having humbled ourselves so much for Your sake that all our strength has been destroyed even to hell. And this is similar to what was said: “For your sake we are killed all day long” (Ps. 43:23). Ps.140:8. For my eyes are toward You, Lord, Lord. And I do not hope for anything human, but I expect Your help, and I beg you not to deprive my soul of it. I trust in You, do not take away my soul, that is, do not take from it the trust that I have in You. Ps.140:10. Sinners will fall into their own darkness. Let, he says, sinners fall into their snares. I am one, I will cross the Dondezh. Then I will pass by fearlessly and carelessly, when sinners themselves fall into their snares. And I will spend my life separately from them until I reach the end of my life. You might be interested in: