Psalm 143

A psalm of David.

Lord, hear my prayer,(A)
    listen to my cry for mercy;(B)
in your faithfulness(C) and righteousness(D)
    come to my relief.
Do not bring your servant into judgment,
    for no one living is righteous(E) before you.
The enemy pursues me,
    he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in the darkness(F)
    like those long dead.(G)
So my spirit grows faint within me;
    my heart within me is dismayed.(H)
I remember(I) the days of long ago;
    I meditate(J) on all your works
    and consider what your hands have done.
I spread out my hands(K) to you;
    I thirst for you like a parched land.[a]

Answer me quickly,(L) Lord;
    my spirit fails.(M)
Do not hide your face(N) from me
    or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,(O)
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way(P) I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.(Q)
Rescue me(R) from my enemies,(S) Lord,
    for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me(T) to do your will,
    for you are my God;(U)
may your good Spirit
    lead(V) me on level ground.(W)

11 For your name’s sake,(X) Lord, preserve my life;(Y)
    in your righteousness,(Z) bring me out of trouble.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;(AA)
    destroy all my foes,(AB)
    for I am your servant.(AC)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 143:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

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