Psalm 143

A Cry for Help

A psalm of David.

Lord, hear my prayer.
In your faithfulness listen to my plea,
and in your righteousness answer me.(A)
Do not bring your servant into judgment,(B)
for no one alive is righteous in your sight.(C)

For the enemy has pursued me,
crushing me to the ground,
making me live in darkness
like those long dead.(D)
My spirit is weak within me;
my heart is overcome with dismay.(E)

I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all you have done;
I reflect on the work of your hands.(F)
I spread out my hands to you;
I am like parched land before you.(G)Selah

Answer me quickly, Lord;
my spirit fails.(H)
Don’t hide your face from me,
or I will be like those
going down to the Pit.(I)
Let me experience
your faithful love in the morning,
for I trust in you.(J)
Reveal to me the way I should go
because I appeal to you.(K)
Rescue me from my enemies, Lord;
I come to you for protection.[a](L)
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.(M)
May your gracious Spirit
lead me on level ground.(N)

11 For your name’s sake, Lord,
let me live.
In your righteousness deliver me from trouble,(O)
12 and in your faithful love destroy my enemies.
Wipe out all those who attack me,
for I am your servant.(P)

Footnotes

  1. 143:9 One Hb ms, LXX; some Hb mss read I cover myself to you

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.

Footnotes

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