Psalm 141

English Standard Version

Give Ear to My Voice

A Psalm of David.

141 O Lord, I call upon you; ^(A)hasten to me!
Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
²Let ^(B)my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and ^(C)the lifting up of my hands as ^(D)the evening sacrifice!

³^(E)Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
    ^(F)keep watch over the door of my lips!
⁴^(G)Do not let my heart incline to any evil,
    to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who ^(H)work iniquity,
    and ^(I)let me not eat of their delicacies!

⁵^(J)Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
    let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;
    let my head not refuse it.
Yet ^(K)my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
⁶When their judges are ^(L)thrown over the cliff,^[a]
    then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.
⁷As when one plows and breaks up the earth,
    so shall our bones ^(M)be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.^[b]

⁸But ^(N)my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord;
    ^(O)in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!^[c]
⁹Keep me from ^(P)the trap that they have laid for me
    and from the snares of evildoers!
¹⁰Let the wicked ^(Q)fall into their own nets,
    while I pass by safely.

Footnotes

Psalm 141:6 Or When their judges fall into the hands of the Rock
Psalm 141:7 The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 6, 7 is uncertain
Psalm 141:8 Hebrew refuge; do not pour out my life!

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.