Psalms 143
1 A Psalm by David. Hear my prayer, LORD. Listen to my petitions. In your faithfulness and righteousness, relieve 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 man living is righteous.
Let not your servant come before you to be judged; for no man living is upright in your eyes.
3 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.
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 Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me. My heart within me is desolate.
Because of this my spirit is overcome; and my heart is full of fear.
5 I remember the days of old. I meditate on all your doings. I contemplate the work of your hands.
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 out my hands to you. My soul thirsts for you, like 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 Hurry to answer me, LORD. My spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me, so that I do not 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 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.
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 Deliver me, LORD, from my enemies. I flee to you to hide me.
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. Your Spirit is good. 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 Revive me, LORD, for your name’s sake. 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 loving kindness, cut off my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul, 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.
