Psalm 43
King James Version
43 Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.
2 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?
3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
4 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.
5 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.
Psalm 43
English Standard Version
Send Out Your Light and Your Truth
43 (A)Vindicate me, O God, and (B)defend my cause
against an ungodly people,
from (C)the deceitful and unjust man
deliver me!
2 For you are (D)the God in whom I take refuge;
why have you (E)rejected me?
Why do I (F)go about mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?
Psalm 43
Lexham English Bible
A Prayer for Rescue
43 Judge me, O God, and plead my case
against[a] an unfaithful[b] nation.
From a man of deceit and wickedness rescue me,
2 because you are the God of my refuge.
Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 Send your light and your truth;
they shall lead[c] me.
They shall bring me to your holy mountain[d]
and to your dwelling places.
4 Then[e] I will go to the altar of God,
to God, my surpassing joy,[f]
and I will praise you with lyre,
O God, my God.
5 Why are you in despair,[g] O my soul?
And why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God, because I will again praise him,
my salvation[h] and my God.
Footnotes
- Psalm 43:1 Or “because of”
- Psalm 43:1 Or “disloyal”
- Psalm 43:3 Or “let them lead”
- Psalm 43:3 Literally “the mountain of your holiness”
- Psalm 43:4 Or “And”
- Psalm 43:4 Literally “the joy of my gladness”
- Psalm 43:5 Literally “bowed down”
- Psalm 43:5 Hebrew “the salvation of my face”
Psalm 43
The Voice
Psalm 43[a]
1 Plead for me; clear my name, O God. Prove me innocent
before immoral people;
Save me from their lies,
their unjust thoughts and deeds.
2 You are the True God—my shelter, my protector, the one whom I lean on.
Why have You turned away from me? Rejected me?
Why must I go around, overwrought, mourning,
suffering under the weight of my enemies?
3 O my God, shine Your light and truth
to help me see clearly,
To lead me to Your holy mountain,
to Your home.
4 Then I will go to God’s altar with nothing to hide.
I will go to God, my rapture;
I will sing praises to You and play my strings,
unloading my cares, unleashing my joys, to You, God, my God.
5 O my soul, why are you so overwrought?
Why are you so disturbed?
Why can’t I just hope in God? Despite all my emotions, I will hope in God again.
I will believe and praise the One
who saves me and is my life,
My Savior and my God.
Footnotes
- Psalm 43 Psalms 42–43 are a single poem in many Hebrew manuscripts.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.