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Psalm 143

A psalm by David.

O Yahweh, listen to my prayer.
    Open your ears to hear my urgent requests.
    Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.
Do not take me to court for judgment,
    because there is no one alive
        who is righteous in your presence.

The enemy has pursued me.
    He has ground my life into the dirt.
    He has made me live in dark places
        like those who have died long ago.
That is why I begin to lose hope
    and my heart is in a state of shock.

I remember the days long ago.
    I reflect on all that you have done.
    I carefully consider what your hands have made.
I stretch out my hands to you in prayer.
    Like parched land, my soul thirsts for you. Selah

Answer me quickly, O Yahweh.
    My spirit is worn out.
    Do not hide your face from me,
    or I will be like those who go into the pit.
Let me hear about your mercy in the morning,
    because I trust you.
    Let me know the way that I should go,
    because I long for you.
Rescue me from my enemies, O Yahweh.
    I come to you for protection.

10 Teach me to do your will, because you are my Elohim.
    May your good Ruach lead me on level ground.
11 O Yahweh, keep me alive for the sake of your name.
    Because you are righteous, lead me out of trouble.
12 In keeping with your mercy, wipe out my enemies
    and destroy all who torment me,
        because I am your servant.

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.

143 Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.

And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

11 Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.

12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.