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!
(D)Enter not into judgment with your servant,
    for no one living is righteous (E)before you.

For 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.
Therefore my spirit (H)faints within me;
    my heart within me is appalled.

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

(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.
(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.

(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!
12 And 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.

Notas al pie

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

Psalm 143

A song of David.

Eternal One, I come to You in prayer.
    Hear me out; I plead with You.
    Lend an ear to my requests.
    In Your faithfulness and justice, respond to my pleas.
Be kind and slow to judge Your faithful servant,
    for compared to You, no one is truly just.

My adversary has pressed in, drawn closer, threatened my life;
    he’s crushed me, driven me underground.
    He’s forced me to live in the dark;
    it’s as if I joined those who died a long time ago.
That’s why my spirit is growing faint inside me; I have nothing left;
    my heart is completely empty and desolate.

And yet I can’t forget the days of old, the days I’ve heard so much about;
    I fix my mind on all You have done;
    I ponder the work of Your hands;
I reach out my hands to You.
    All that I am aches and yearns for You, like a dry land thirsting for rain.

[pause][a]

Hurry and answer me, O Eternal One,
    for my spirit is weak, my courage is gone.
Do not turn away; let me see Your face;
    otherwise, I’ll die and be like all those who have gone to the grave.
Make me hear of Your faithful love in the morning,
    for I trust in You.
Teach me how I should walk,
    for I offer my soul up to You.

Rescue me from my enemies, Eternal One,
    for You are my shelter from them.
10 Teach me how to do Your will,
    for You are my God.
Allow Your good Spirit to guide me
    on level ground, to guide me along Your path.

11 For the sake of Your name and the good of Your reputation,
    preserve me, O Eternal One.
    In Your righteousness, save my life from burden and misery.
12 In Your loyal love, silence my enemies for good;
    destroy all those who take pleasure in my suffering,
    for I am Your faithful servant!

Notas al pie

  1. 143:6 Literally, selah, likely a musical direction from a Hebrew root meaning “to lift up”

Psalm 143

A psalm of David.

Lord, hear my prayer,(A)
    listen to my cry for mercy;(B)
in your faithfulness(C) and righteousness(D)
    come to my relief.
Do not bring your servant into judgment,
    for no one living is righteous(E) before you.
The enemy pursues me,
    he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in the darkness(F)
    like those long dead.(G)
So my spirit grows faint within me;
    my heart within me is dismayed.(H)
I remember(I) the days of long ago;
    I meditate(J) on all your works
    and consider what your hands have done.
I spread out my hands(K) to you;
    I thirst for you like a parched land.[a]

Answer me quickly,(L) Lord;
    my spirit fails.(M)
Do not hide your face(N) from me
    or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,(O)
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way(P) I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.(Q)
Rescue me(R) from my enemies,(S) Lord,
    for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me(T) to do your will,
    for you are my God;(U)
may your good Spirit
    lead(V) me on level ground.(W)

11 For your name’s sake,(X) Lord, preserve my life;(Y)
    in your righteousness,(Z) bring me out of trouble.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;(AA)
    destroy all my foes,(AB)
    for I am your servant.(AC)

Notas al pie

  1. Psalm 143:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.