Psalms 143
1 A psalm of David. Hear my prayer, Yahweh; listen to my pleas. Because of your faithfulness and righteousness, answer me!
A Psalm. Of David. Let my prayer come to you, O Lord; give ear to my requests for your grace; keep faith with me, and give me an answer in your righteousness;
2 Do not enter into judgment with your servant, for in your sight no one is righteous.
Let not your servant come before you to be judged; for no man living is upright in your eyes.
3 The enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed me to the ground; he has made me to live in darkness like those who have been dead a long time.
The evil man has gone after my soul; my life is crushed down to the earth: he has put me in the dark, like those who have long been dead.
4 My spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart despairs.
Because of this my spirit is overcome; and my heart is full of fear.
5 I call to mind the old days; I meditate on all your deeds; I reflect on your accomplishments.
I keep in mind the early days of the past, giving thought to all your acts, even to the work of your hands.
6 I spread my hands out to you; my soul thirsts for you in a parched land. (Selah)
My hands are stretched out to you: my soul is turned to you, like a land in need of water. (Selah)
7 Answer me quickly, Yahweh, because my spirit faints. Do not hide your face from me, or I will become like those who go down into the pit.
Be quick in answering me, O Lord, for the strength of my spirit is gone: let me see your face, so that I may not be like those who go down into the underworld.
8 Let me hear your covenant faithfulness in the morning, for I trust in you. Show me the way where I should walk, for I lift up my soul to you.
Let the story of your mercy come to me in the morning, for my hope is in you: give me knowledge of the way in which I am to go; for my soul is lifted up to you.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, Yahweh; I flee to you to hide.
O Lord, take me out of the hands of my haters; my soul is waiting for you.
10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your good Spirit lead me in the land of uprightness.
Give me teaching so that I may do your pleasure; for you are my God: let your good Spirit be my guide into the land of righteousness.
11 Yahweh, for your name's sake, keep me alive; in your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.
Give me life, O Lord, because of your name; in your righteousness take my soul out of trouble.
12 In your covenant faithfulness cut off my enemies and destroy all the enemies of my life, for I am your servant.
And in your mercy put an end to my haters, and send destruction on all those who are against my soul; for I am your servant.
