What Does Psalms 141:4 Mean?

(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.