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Psalm 143[a]

A Prayer in Distress

A psalm of David.

Lord, hear my prayer;
    in your faithfulness listen to my pleading;
    answer me in your righteousness.
Do not enter into judgment with your servant;
    before you no one can be just.(A)
The enemy has pursued my soul;
    he has crushed my life to the ground.(B)
He has made me dwell in darkness
    like those long dead.(C)
My spirit is faint within me;
    my heart despairs.(D)
I remember the days of old;
    I ponder all your deeds;
    the works of your hands I recall.(E)
I stretch out my hands toward you,
    my soul to you like a parched land.(F)
Selah
Hasten to answer me, Lord;
    for my spirit fails me.
Do not hide your face from me,
    lest I become like those descending to the pit.(G)
In the morning let me hear of your mercy,
    for in you I trust.
Show me the path I should walk,
    for I entrust my life to you.(H)
Rescue me, Lord, from my foes,
    for I seek refuge in you.
10 Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God.
May your kind spirit guide me
    on ground that is level.
11 For your name’s sake, Lord, give me life;
    in your righteousness lead my soul out of distress.
12 In your mercy put an end to my foes;
    all those who are oppressing my soul,
    for I am your servant.(I)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 143 One of the Church’s seven Penitential Psalms, this lament is a prayer to be freed from death-dealing enemies. The psalmist addresses God, aware that there is no equality between God and human beings; salvation is a gift (Ps 143:1–2). Victimized by evil people (Ps 143:3–4), the psalmist recites (“remembers”) God’s past actions on behalf of the innocent (Ps 143:5–6). The Psalm continues with fervent prayer (Ps 143:7–9) and a strong desire for guidance and protection (Ps 143:10–12).

Psalm 143

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

A Psalm of David.

Hear my prayer, O Lord;
    give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness;
    answer me in your righteousness.
Do not enter into judgment with your servant,
    for no one living is righteous before you.

For the enemy has pursued me,
    crushing my life to the ground,
    making me sit in darkness like those long dead.
Therefore my spirit faints within me;
    my heart within me is appalled.

I remember the days of old,
    I think about all your deeds,
    I meditate on the works of your hands.
I stretch out my hands to you;
    my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.Selah

Answer me quickly, O Lord;
    my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me,
    or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning,
    for in you I put my trust.
Teach me the way I should go,
    for to you I lift up my soul.

Save me, O Lord, from my enemies;
    I have fled to you for refuge.[a]
10 Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God.
Let your good spirit lead me
    on a level path.

11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life.
    In your righteousness bring me out of trouble.
12 In your steadfast love cut off my enemies,
    and destroy all my adversaries,
    for I am your servant.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 143:9 One Heb Ms Gk: MT to you I have hidden

A Prayer for Help[a]

143 Lord, hear my prayer!
In your righteousness listen to my plea;
    answer me in your faithfulness!
(A)Don't put me, your servant, on trial;
    no one is innocent in your sight.

My enemies have hunted me down
    and completely defeated me.
They have put me in a dark prison,
    and I am like those who died long ago.
So I am ready to give up;
    I am in deep despair.

I remember the days gone by;
    I think about all that you have done,
    I bring to mind all your deeds.
I lift up my hands to you in prayer;
    like dry ground my soul is thirsty for you.

Answer me now, Lord!
    I have lost all hope.
Don't hide yourself from me,
    or I will be among those who go down to the world of the dead.
Remind me each morning of your constant love,
    for I put my trust in you.
My prayers go up to you;
    show me the way I should go.

I go to you for protection, Lord;
    rescue me from my enemies.
10 You are my God;
    teach me to do your will.
Be good to me, and guide me on a safe path.

11 Rescue me, Lord, as you have promised;
    in your goodness save me from my troubles!
12 Because of your love for me, kill my enemies
    and destroy all my oppressors,
    for I am your servant.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 143:1 HEBREW TITLE: A psalm by David.

Prayer for Help and Guidance.

A Psalm of David.

143 Hear my prayer, Lord,
(A)Listen to my pleadings!
Answer me in Your (B)faithfulness, in Your (C)righteousness!
And (D)do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For (E)no person living is righteous in Your sight.
For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life (F)to the ground;
He (G)has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead.
Therefore (H)my spirit [a]feels weak within me;
My heart is [b](I)appalled within me.

I (J)remember the days of old;
I (K)meditate on all Your accomplishments;
I (L)reflect on the work of Your hands.
I (M)spread out my hands to You;
My (N)soul longs for You, like a weary land. Selah

(O)Answer me quickly, Lord, my (P)spirit fails;
(Q)Do not hide Your face from me,
Or I will be the same as (R)those who go down to the pit.
Let me hear Your (S)faithfulness (T)in the morning,
For I trust (U)in You;
Teach me the (V)way in which I should walk;
For to You I (W)lift up my soul.
(X)Save me, Lord, from my enemies;
[c]I take refuge in You.

10 (Y)Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Let (Z)Your good Spirit (AA)lead me on level [d]ground.
11 (AB)For the sake of Your name, Lord, (AC)revive me.
(AD)In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.
12 And in Your faithfulness, [e](AE)destroy my enemies,
And (AF)eliminate all those who attack my soul,
For (AG)I am Your servant.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 143:4 Or faints within
  2. Psalm 143:4 Or desolate
  3. Psalm 143:9 Lit To You have I hidden
  4. Psalm 143:10 Lit land
  5. Psalm 143:12 Or silence

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)

Footnotes

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