The Meaning of Psalms 141:4 Explained

Psalms 141:4

KJV: 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.

YLT: 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.

Darby: Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise deeds of wickedness with men that are workers of iniquity; and let me not eat of their dainties.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Psalms 141:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 141:1-10 - Humility
This is an evening psalm. Acceptable prayer is as the smoke of incense rising in the still air, Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3-4. Each day we should ask to be delivered from lip sins, life sins, and like sins-especially the last, the dainties of appetite and desire, Psalms 141:4.
We owe a great deal to the care of fellow-believers. It may take more love to smite than to soothe. The breaking of the box of precious ointment over our heads may cause a momentary shock; but we must not refuse it, since the contents are so salutary; and we can return their well-meant kindness by praying for the righteous when their calamities are multiplied, Psalms 141:5. It was a rough time for David, but he kept looking up and committing his soul to God's faithful care. Under similar circumstances Paul struck an even higher note, Romans 8:36-37. Go on patiently living up to your ideal. God will surely vindicate you! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 141

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

What do the individual words in Psalms 141:4 mean?

Not do incline my heart to any thing evil do practice works wicked with men who work iniquity and not do let me eat of their delicacies
אַל־ תַּט־ לִבִּ֨י לְדָבָ֪ר ׀ רָ֡ע לְהִתְע֘וֹלֵ֤ל עֲלִל֨וֹת ׀ בְּרֶ֗שַׁע אֶת־ אִישִׁ֥ים פֹּֽעֲלֵי־ אָ֑וֶן וּבַל־ אֶ֝לְחַ֗ם בְּמַנְעַמֵּיהֶֽם

תַּט־  do  incline 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect Jussive, second person masculine singular
Root: נָטָה 
Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.
לִבִּ֨י  my  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
לְדָבָ֪ר ׀  to  any  thing 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
רָ֡ע  evil 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
לְהִתְע֘וֹלֵ֤ל  do  practice 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Hitpael, Infinitive construct
Root: עָלַל 
Sense: to act severely, deal with severely, make a fool of someone.
עֲלִל֨וֹת ׀  works 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: עֲלִילָה  
Sense: wantonness, deed, doing.
בְּרֶ֗שַׁע  wicked 
Parse: Preposition, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֶשַׁע  
Sense: wrong, wickedness, guilt.
אִישִׁ֥ים  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱנׄושׁ 
Sense: man, mortal man, person, mankind.
פֹּֽעֲלֵי־  who  work 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: פָּעַל  
Sense: to do, make.
אָ֑וֶן  iniquity 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָוֶן 
Sense: trouble, wickedness, sorrow.
וּבַל־  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: בַּל 
Sense: not, hardly, else.
אֶ֝לְחַ֗ם  do  let  me  eat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: לָחַם 
Sense: to fight, do battle, make war.
בְּמַנְעַמֵּיהֶֽם  of  their  delicacies 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מַנְעַמִּים  
Sense: delicacies, dainties.