< 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. Listen, O Lord, to my prayer; attend to my plea. In your faithfulness give me answer, and in your righteousness.
2 Do not enter into judgment with your servant, for in your sight no man living is righteous.
With your servant O enter you not into judgment, for in your sight can no one alive be justified.
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.
For the enemy persecutes me, crushing my life to the ground, making me live in the darkness, as those who have long been dead.
4 Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me. My heart within me is desolate.
My spirit is faint within me, my heart is bewildered within me.
5 I remember the days of old. I meditate on all your doings. I contemplate the work of your hands.
I remember the days of old, and brood over all you have done, musing on all that your hands have wrought.
6 I spread out my hands to you. My soul thirsts for you, like a parched land. (Selah)
I spread out my hands to you: I thirst for you, like parched earth. (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.
Answer me soon, Lord, because my spirit is spent. Hide not your face from me, else become I like those who go down to the pit.
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 me learn of your love in the morning, for my trust is in you. Teach me the way I should go: for my heart longs for you.
9 Deliver me, LORD, from my enemies. I flee to you to hide me.
Save me, O Lord, from my foes: for to you I have fled for refuge.
10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.
Teach me to do your will, for you yourself are my God. Guide me by your good spirit, O Lord, on a way that is smooth.
11 Revive me, LORD, for your name’s sake. In your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble.
Be true to your name Lord, spare me, bring me out of distress in your faithfulness.
12 In your loving kindness, cut off my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul, for I am your servant.
In your kindness extinguish my enemies, and all those who vex me destroy; for I am your servant.