Psalm 43[a]

Vindicate me, my God,
    and plead my cause(A)
    against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue me(B) from those who are
    deceitful and wicked.(C)
You are God my stronghold.
    Why have you rejected(D) me?
Why must I go about mourning,(E)
    oppressed by the enemy?(F)
Send me your light(G) and your faithful care,(H)
    let them lead me;(I)
let them bring me to your holy mountain,(J)
    to the place where you dwell.(K)
Then I will go(L) to the altar(M) of God,
    to God, my joy(N) and my delight.(O)
I will praise you with the lyre,(P)
    O God, my God.

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.(Q)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 43:1 In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.

43 Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.

For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

A prayer when you are in trouble[a]

43 My God, show that I am not guilty.
Make the people who do not respect you
    know that I am right.
Rescue me from the evil people
    who tell lies about me.
God, you are the safe place where I can hide.
    Why have you pushed me away?
How much longer must I continue to weep,
    because my enemies do cruel things to me?
Send to me your light and your truth.
    Let them be my guide.
They will take me back to your holy mountain
    and to the house where you live.[b]
Then I will go to your altar,
    to worship you, the God who makes me happy.
You are my God and I will praise you there.
    I will sing to thank you, God, with my harp.

I ask myself,
    ‘Why am I so sad and upset?’
I must wait patiently for God to help me.
Then I will praise my God once again,
    because he is the one who saves me.

Footnotes

  1. 43:1 Bible students think that Psalm 43 continues from Psalm 42 as one psalm.
  2. 43:3 The writer prays for God to send light and truth. He believes that they will show him the way to go back to Jerusalem. That is where the holy mountain and the house of God are. The holy mountain is Mount Zion, where the temple was.