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Certainly[a] my enemies[b] chase me.
They smash me into the ground.[c]
They force me to live[d] in dark regions,[e]
like those who have been dead for ages.
My strength leaves me;[f]
I am absolutely shocked.[g]
I recall the old days.[h]
I meditate on all you have done;
I reflect on your accomplishments.[i]

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 143:3 tn Or “for.”
  2. Psalm 143:3 tn Heb “an enemy.” The singular is used in a representative sense to describe a typical member of the larger group of enemies (note the plural “enemies” in vv. 9, 12).
  3. Psalm 143:3 tn Heb “he crushes on the ground my life.”
  4. Psalm 143:3 tn Or “sit.”
  5. Psalm 143:3 sn Dark regions refers to Sheol, which the psalmist views as a dark place located deep in the ground (see Ps 88:6).
  6. Psalm 143:4 tn Heb “my spirit grows faint.”
  7. Psalm 143:4 tn Heb “in my midst my heart is shocked.” For a similar use of the Hitpolel of שָׁמֵם (shamem), see Isa 59:16; 63:5.
  8. Psalm 143:5 tn Or “ancient times”; Heb “days from before.”
  9. Psalm 143:5 tn Heb “the work of your hands.”