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Psalm 143

A psalm of David.

Hear my prayer, O Lord;
    listen to my plea!
    Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.
Don’t put your servant on trial,
    for no one is innocent before you.
My enemy has chased me.
    He has knocked me to the ground
    and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave.
I am losing all hope;
    I am paralyzed with fear.
I remember the days of old.
    I ponder all your great works
    and think about what you have done.
I lift my hands to you in prayer.
    I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. Interlude

Come quickly, Lord, and answer me,
    for my depression deepens.
Don’t turn away from me,
    or I will die.
Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,
    for I am trusting you.
Show me where to walk,
    for I give myself to you.
Rescue me from my enemies, Lord;
    I run to you to hide me.
10 Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God.
May your gracious Spirit lead me forward
    on a firm footing.
11 For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life.
    Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.
12 In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies
    and destroy all my foes,
    for I am your servant.

A Davidic Song

Longing for God

143 Lord, hear my prayer;
    pay attention to my request, because you are faithful;
        answer me in your righteousness.
Do not enter into judgment with your servant,
    for no living person is righteous in your sight.

For those who oppose me are pursuing my life,
    crushing me to the ground,
making me sit in darkness
    like those who died long ago.
As a result, my spirit is desolate within me,
    and my mind within me is appalled.

I remember the former times,
    meditating on everything you have done.
        I think about the work[a] of your hands.
I stretch out my hands toward you,
    longing for you like a parched land.
Interlude

Answer me quickly, Lord;
    my spirit is failing.
Do not hide your face from me;
    otherwise, I will become like those who descend to the Pit.[b]
In the morning let me hear of your gracious love,
    for in you I trust.
Cause me to know the way I should take,
    because I have set my hope on you.
Deliver me from my enemies, Lord.
    I have taken refuge in you.
10 Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God.
        Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
11 For the sake of your name, Lord,
    preserve my life.
Because you are righteous,
    bring me out of trouble.
12 Because of your gracious love,
    you will cut off my enemies.
You will destroy all who oppose me,
    for I am your servant.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 143:5 So MT; LXX DSS 11QPsa read works
  2. Psalm 143:7 I.e. the place of punishment in the afterlife