Psalms 143
1 A Psalm of David, when his son pursued him. O Lord, attend to my prayer: listen to my supplication in your truth; hear me in your righteousness.
A PSALM OF DAVID. O YHWH, hear my prayer, Give ear to my supplications, Answer me in Your faithfulness—in Your righteousness.
2 And enter not into judgment with your servant, for in your sight shall no [man] living be justified.
And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For no one living is justified before You.
3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has brought my life down to the ground; he has made me to dwell in a dark [place], as those that have been long dead.
For an enemy has pursued my soul, He has bruised my life to the earth, He has caused me to dwell in dark places, As the dead of old.
4 Therefore my spirit was grieved in me; my heart was troubled within me.
And my spirit has become feeble in me, My heart has become desolate within me.
5 I remembered the days of old; and I meditated on all your doings: [yes], I meditated on the works of your hands.
I have remembered days of old, I have meditated on all Your acts, I muse on the work of Your hand.
6 I spread forth my hands to you; my soul [thirsts] for you, as a dry land. (Pause)
I have spread forth my hands to You, My soul [is] as a weary land for You. (Selah)
7 Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit has failed; turn not away your face from me, else I shall be like to them that go down to the pit.
Hurry, answer me, O YHWH, My spirit has been consumed, Do not hide Your face from me, Or I have been compared with those going down [to] the pit.
8 Cause me to hear your mercy in the morning; for I have hoped in you; make known to me, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk; for I have lifted up my soul to you.
Cause me to hear Your kindness in the morning, For I have trusted in You, Cause me to know the way that I go, For I have lifted up my soul to You.
9 Deliver me from mine enemies, O Lord; for I have fled to you for refuge.
Deliver me from my enemies, O YHWH, Near You I am covered.
10 Teach me to do your will; for you are my God; your good Spirit shall guide me in the straight [way].
Teach me to do Your good pleasure, For You [are] my God—Your Spirit [is] good, Lead me into a land of uprightness.
11 You shall quicken me, O Lord, for your name's sake; in your righteousness you shall bring my soul out of affliction.
You quicken me for Your Name’s sake, O YHWH, In Your righteousness, You bring out my soul from distress,
12 And in your mercy you will destroy mine enemies, and will destroy all those that afflict my soul; for I am your servant.
And in Your kindness cut off my enemies, And have destroyed all the adversaries of my soul, For I [am] Your servant!
