Psalm 143

English Standard Version

My Soul Thirsts for You

A Psalm of David.

143 Hear my prayer, O Lord;
    ^(A)give ear to my pleas for mercy!
    In your ^(B)faithfulness answer me, in your ^(C)righteousness!
²^(D)Enter not into judgment with your servant,
    for no one living is righteous ^(E)before you.

³For the enemy has pursued my soul;
    ^(F)he has crushed my life to the ground;
    ^(G)he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
⁴Therefore my spirit ^(H)faints within me;
    my heart within me is appalled.

⁵^(I)I remember the days of old;
    ^(J)I meditate on all that you have done;
    I ponder the work of your hands.
⁶^(K)I stretch out my hands to you;
    ^(L)my soul thirsts for you like ^(M)a parched land. Selah

⁷^(N)Answer me quickly, O Lord!
    ^(O)My spirit fails!
^(P)Hide not your face from me,
    ^(Q)lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
⁸^(R)Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
    for in you I ^(S)trust.
^(T)Make me know the way I should go,
    ^(U)for to you I lift up my soul.

⁹^(V)Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!
    I have fled to you for refuge.^[a]
¹⁰^(W)Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God!
^(X)Let your good Spirit ^(Y)lead me
    on ^(Z)level ground!

¹¹^(AA)For your name's sake, O Lord, ^(AB)preserve my life!
    In your righteousness ^(AC)bring my soul out of trouble!
¹²And in your steadfast love you will ^(AD)cut off my enemies,
    and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
    for I am your ^(AE)servant.

Footnotes

Psalm 143:9 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts To you I have covered

Psalm 143

International Children’s Bible

A Prayer Not to Be Killed

A song of David.

143 Lord, hear my prayer.
    Listen to my cry for mercy.
Come to help me
    because you are loyal and good.
²Don’t judge me, your servant,
    because no one alive is right before you.
³My enemies are chasing me.
    They have crushed me to the ground.
They have made me live in darkness
    like those who are long dead.
⁴I am afraid.
    My courage is gone.

⁵I remember what happened long ago.
    I recall everything you have done.
    I think about all you have made.
⁶I lift my hands to you in prayer.
    As a dry land needs rain, I thirst for you. Selah

⁷Lord, answer me quickly.
    I am getting weak.
Don’t turn away from me,
    or I will be like those who are dead.
⁸Tell me in the morning about your love.
    I trust you.
Show me what I should do
    because my prayers go up to you.
⁹Lord, save me from my enemies.
    I come to you for safety.
¹⁰Teach me to do what you want,
    because you are my God.
Let your good Spirit
    lead me on level ground.

¹¹Lord, let me live
    so people will praise you.
In your goodness
    save me from my troubles.
¹²In your love defeat my enemies.
    Destroy all those who trouble me
    because I am your servant.

English Standard Version (ESV)

International Children’s Bible (ICB)

Psalm 143 English Standard Version