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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.

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!
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?

(G)Send out your light and your truth;
    let them lead me;
let them bring me to your (H)holy hill
    and to your (I)dwelling!
Then I will go to the altar of God,
    to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
    O God, my God.

(J)Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
(K)Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation and my God.