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A Psalm by David.

143 Hear my prayer, Yahweh.
    Listen to my petitions.
    In your faithfulness and righteousness, relieve me.
Don’t enter into judgment with your servant,
    for in your sight no man living is righteous.
For the enemy pursues my soul.
    He has struck my life down to the ground.
    He has made me live in dark places, as those who have been long dead.
Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me.
    My heart within me is desolate.
I remember the days of old.
    I meditate on all your doings.
    I contemplate the work of your hands.
I spread out my hands to you.
    My soul thirsts for you, like a parched land. Selah.
Hurry to answer me, Yahweh.
    My spirit fails.
Don’t hide your face from me,
    so that I don’t become like those who go down into the pit.
Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning,
    for I trust in you.
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
    for I lift up my soul to you.
Deliver me, Yahweh, from my enemies.
    I flee to you to hide me.
10 Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God.
Your Spirit is good.
    Lead me in the land of uprightness.
11 Revive me, Yahweh, for your name’s sake.
    In your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble.
12 In your loving kindness, cut off my enemies,
    and destroy all those who afflict my soul,
    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