Psalm 141:4
New International Version
Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies.

New Living Translation
Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong.

English Standard Version
Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!

Berean Standard Bible
Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing or take part in works of wickedness with men who do iniquity; let me not feast on their delicacies.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice wicked works With men who work iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies.

New American Standard Bible
Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice deeds of wickedness With people who do wrong; And may I not taste their delicacies.

NASB 1995
Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice deeds of wickedness With men who do iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies.

NASB 1977
Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice deeds of wickedness With men who do iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies.

Legacy Standard Bible
Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice deeds in wickedness With men who are workers of iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies.

Amplified Bible
Do not incline my heart to [consent to or tolerate] any evil thing, Or to practice deeds of wickedness With men who plan and do evil; And let me not eat of their delicacies (be tempted by their gain).

Christian Standard Bible
Do not let my heart turn to any evil thing or perform wicked acts with evildoers. Do not let me feast on their delicacies.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Do not let my heart turn to any evil thing or perform wicked acts with men who commit sin. Do not let me feast on their delicacies.

American Standard Version
Incline not my heart to any evil thing, To practise deeds of wickedness With men that work iniquity: And let me not eat of their dainties.

Contemporary English Version
Don't let me want to do evil or waste my time doing wrong with wicked people. Don't let me even taste the good things they offer.

English Revised Version
Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to be occupied in deeds of wickedness with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Do not let me be persuaded to do anything evil or to become involved with wickedness, with people who are troublemakers. Do not let me taste their delicacies.

Good News Translation
Keep me from wanting to do wrong and from joining evil people in their wickedness. May I never take part in their feasts.

International Standard Version
Don't let my heart turn toward evil or involve itself in wicked activities with men who practice iniquity. Let me not feast on their delicacies.

Majority Standard Bible
Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing or take part in works of wickedness with men who do iniquity; let me not feast on their delicacies.

NET Bible
Do not let me have evil desires, or participate in sinful activities with men who behave wickedly. I will not eat their delicacies.

New Heart English Bible
Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity. Do not let me eat of their delicacies.

Webster's Bible Translation
Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

World English Bible
Don’t incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity. Don’t let me eat of their delicacies.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Do not incline my heart to an evil thing, "" To habitually do actions in wickedness, "" Working iniquity with men, "" Indeed, I do not eat of their pleasant things.

Young's Literal Translation
Incline not my heart to an evil thing, To do habitually actions in wickedness, With men working iniquity, Yea, I eat not of their pleasant things.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou wilt not incline my heart to an evil word, to work works in injustice with men doing iniquity: and I will not eat upon their dainties.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Incline not my heart to evil words; to make excuses in sins. With men that work iniquity: and I will not communicate with the choicest of them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Do not turn aside my heart to words of malice, to making excuses for sins, with men who work iniquity; and I will not communicate, even with the best of them.

New American Bible
Do not let my heart incline to evil, to perform deeds in wickedness. On the delicacies of evildoers let me not feast.

New Revised Standard Version
Do not turn my heart to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with those who work iniquity; do not let me eat of their delicacies.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So that my heart may not incline to evil things, and practise wicked works with men who work iniquity; let me not eat salt with them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
That my heart would not turn aside to an evil word or do evil works with wicked men. I shall not eat salt with them.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Incline not my heart to any evil thing, To be occupied in deeds of wickedness With men that work iniquity; And let me not eat of their dainties.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Incline not my heart to evil things, to employ pretexts for sins, with me who work iniquity: and let me not unite with their choice ones.
Audio Bible



Context
Come Quickly to Me
3Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips. 4Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing or take part in works of wickedness with men who do iniquity; let me not feast on their delicacies. 5Let the righteous man strike me; let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion. It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. For my prayer is ever against the deeds of the wicked.…

Cross References
Proverbs 4:23
Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.

Matthew 6:13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

James 1:14-15
But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. / Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.

Proverbs 23:3
Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.

1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.

Ephesians 4:22-24
to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; / to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; / and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

2 Timothy 2:22
Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Proverbs 1:10
My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.

Galatians 5:16-17
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. / For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.

Colossians 3:5
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.

Proverbs 6:27-28
Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned? / Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet?

Matthew 26:41
“Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. / For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. / The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.


Treasury of Scripture

Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

incline not

Psalm 119:36
Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

Deuteronomy 2:30
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.

Deuteronomy 29:4
Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.

to practise

1 Corinthians 15:33
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

2 Corinthians 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

Revelation 18:4
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

and let me

Numbers 25:2
And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.

Proverbs 23:1-3,6-8
When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: …

Daniel 1:5-8
And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king…

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Psalm 141
1. David prays that his suit may be acceptable
3. His conscience sincere
7. And his life free from snares














Do not let my heart incline to any evil thing
This phrase begins with a plea for divine intervention in the realm of personal morality and ethics. The Hebrew word for "heart" is "לֵב" (lev), which in biblical terms often refers not just to the physical heart but to the center of one's inner life, including mind, will, and emotions. The psalmist is acutely aware of the human propensity to drift towards sin and is asking God to guard his innermost being against such inclinations. This reflects a deep understanding of the need for divine grace to maintain purity and righteousness, acknowledging that human strength alone is insufficient to resist the allure of evil.

to practice wicked deeds
The phrase "practice wicked deeds" underscores the active nature of sin. The Hebrew root for "practice" is "עָשָׂה" (asah), which means to do or make. This suggests a deliberate action, a conscious choice to engage in behavior that is contrary to God's will. The psalmist is not only concerned with the temptation of evil thoughts but also with the manifestation of those thoughts into actions. This highlights the biblical principle that sin often begins in the heart and mind before it is expressed outwardly. The plea here is for God to prevent the transition from thought to action, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and divine assistance in living a life that honors God.

with men who do iniquity
The mention of "men who do iniquity" brings a social dimension to the psalmist's prayer. The Hebrew word for "iniquity" is "אָוֶן" (aven), which conveys a sense of moral perversity or injustice. The psalmist is aware of the influence that others can have on one's moral compass. Associating with those who habitually engage in wrongdoing can lead one astray, highlighting the biblical wisdom found in Proverbs 13:20, "He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed." This part of the verse serves as a reminder of the importance of choosing one's companions wisely and seeking fellowship with those who encourage righteousness.

let me not eat of their delicacies
The final phrase, "let me not eat of their delicacies," uses the metaphor of food to describe the enticements of sin. The Hebrew word for "delicacies" is "מַנְעַמִּים" (man'amim), which refers to things that are pleasant or desirable. This imagery suggests that sin often presents itself as something attractive and satisfying, much like a sumptuous meal. However, the psalmist recognizes that indulging in such "delicacies" leads to spiritual malnutrition and separation from God. This echoes the biblical theme that true satisfaction and nourishment come from God alone, as seen in Psalm 34:8, "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." The psalmist's prayer is a call to resist the temporary pleasures of sin in favor of the eternal joy found in obedience to God.

(4) To practise wicked works . . .--The Vulg., ad excusandas excusationes, following the LXX., not only preserves the expressive assonance of the original, but probably conveys its meaning better than the somewhat tame English version. Evidently the danger to be guarded against was not so much a sinful act as a sinful utterance, and the expression "to make pretexts or excuses" may possibly refer to the casuistries by which some of the laxer Jews excused their participation in heathen rites or licentious banquets. Symmachus has, "to devise wicked devices."

Dainties.--The word is peculiar to this passage, but derived from a root meaning "pleasant." The LXX. and Vulg. refer it to persons instead of things. But the use of the same root in Psalm 141:6, "for they are sweet," where the reference is to "words," suggests a meaning here different both from the English and the ancient versions. "I will not taste of their sweets" may mean "I will not listen to their allurements: what finds favour with them shall not tempt me." On the other hand, if we retain the English allusion to the dainties of a feast (so Symmachus), the word in Psalm 141:6 will be used metaphorically in contrast. The words of condemnation he utters, though bitter to these feasters, are in reality sweet with the sweetness of truth.

Verse 4. - Incline not my heart to any evil thing; i.e. let not my heart be inclined to any form of evil. To practice wicked works (rather, wicked practices) with men that work iniquity; and let me not eat of their dainties. Let me not be drawn in to their life of sinful luxury.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Do not let
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

my heart
לִבִּ֨י (lib·bî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

be drawn
תַּט־ (taṭ-)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5186: To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend

to any evil
רָ֡ע (rā‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

thing
לְדָבָ֪ר ׀ (lə·ḏā·ḇār)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

or take part
לְהִתְע֘וֹלֵ֤ל (lə·hiṯ·‘ō·w·lêl)
Preposition-b | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5953: To effect thoroughly, to glean, to overdo, maltreat, be saucy to, pain, impose

in works
עֲלִל֨וֹת ׀ (‘ă·li·lō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5949: An exploit, a performance, an opportunity

of wickedness
בְּרֶ֗שַׁע (bə·re·ša‘)
Preposition | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7562: Wickedness

with
אֶת־ (’eṯ-)
Preposition
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

men
אִישִׁ֥ים (’î·šîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 582: Man, mankind

who do
פֹּֽעֲלֵי־ (pō·‘ă·lê-)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6466: To do, make, to practise

iniquity;
אָ֑וֶן (’ā·wen)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 205: Strictly nothingness, trouble, vanity, wickedness, an idol

let me not
וּבַל־ (ū·ḇal-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 1077: A failure, nothing, not at all, lest

feast
אֶ֝לְחַ֗ם (’el·ḥam)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3898: To feed on, to consume, to battle

on their delicacies.
בְּמַנְעַמֵּיהֶֽם׃ (bə·man·‘am·mê·hem)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4516: Delicacies, dainties


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OT Poetry: Psalm 141:4 Don't incline my heart to any evil (Psalm Ps Psa.)
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