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

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