When we pray, should we pray about sin and sinners? If so, how should we pray? Consider this verse from Psalm 141.

Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers (emphasis added).

Psalm 141:5 (NIV) 

What is this verse telling us?

This is a difficult verse to grasp because it has so many different translations.

Most “agree” on the first two “parts:” that it’s good to be corrected by a righteous person (i.e., another believer) and that this kind of rebuke brings wisdom, etc. (like oil of anointing), but the last part is where most differ.

Most translations seem to indicate that the writer is praying against the deeds of evil people. However, this is different from what the writer is saying. Consider what the King James version says.

Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities (emphasis added).

Psalm 141:5 (KJV)

While very obscure, “In their calamities” reveals a different perspective. That perspective is that the writer is not praying against evildoers but for them.

There is a distinct difference between praying against someone and praying for someone. We are not called to pray against evil people but to pray that God’s will be done because people aren’t our enemies.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (emphasis added).

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

In Matthew, Jesus gives us this instruction.

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Matthew 5:44 (NIV)

If we continue reading Psalm 141, verse 8 confirms that the writer focuses on God and not those evil deeds.

But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge – do not give me over to death.

Psalm 141:8 (NIV)

If we support the concept that the writer is praying against his enemies in verse 5, then this verse appears contradictory.

However, if the writer is praying for his enemies, as God intended, there is no contradiction.

As Christians, our focus must always be on God. First and foremost. When we take our eyes off of God to look at the evil around us and then keep our focus on that evil, even if we’re pointing it out to God, we can become distracted. Consider how easy it is when driving, and your focus changes from looking forward to something else. If, in that “short” second or two, a catastrophic accident can occur because you’ve lost your focus, how much more can we be derailed if we start focusing on all the wicked things that go on in the world? Even worse, if we’re focusing on the people committing these deeds, how much worse, because soon, we will stop thinking of them as they are: lost people who need Jesus, and instead, we’ll consider them our enemies who “deserve” every bad thing that happens to them!