The Meaning of Psalms 141:9 Explained

Psalms 141:9

KJV: Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.

YLT: Keep me from the gin they laid for me, Even snares of workers of iniquity.

Darby: Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, and from the traps of the workers of iniquity.

ASV: Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, And from the gins of the workers of iniquity.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Keep  me from the snares  [which] they have laid  for me, and the gins  of the workers  of iniquity. 

What does Psalms 141:9 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 141:9 mean?

Keep me from the snares they have laid for me and from the traps of the workers of iniquity
שָׁמְרֵ֗נִי מִ֣ידֵי פַ֭ח יָ֣קְשׁוּ לִ֑י וּ֝מֹקְשׁ֗וֹת פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן

שָׁמְרֵ֗נִי  Keep  me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
פַ֭ח  the  snares 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּח 
Sense: bird trap, trap, snare.
יָ֣קְשׁוּ  they  have  laid 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: יָקַשׁ  
Sense: to lure, entice, snare, lay a snare or lure, set a trap.
לִ֑י  for  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
וּ֝מֹקְשׁ֗וֹת  and  from  the  traps 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מֹוקֵשׁ  
Sense: bait, lure, snare.
פֹּ֣עֲלֵי  of  the  workers 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: פָּעַל  
Sense: to do, make.
אָֽוֶן  of  iniquity 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָוֶן 
Sense: trouble, wickedness, sorrow.