Psalms 143
1 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;
Hear, O Lord, my prayer: give ear to my supplication in thy truth: hear me in thy justice.
2 Let not your servant come before you to be judged; for no man living is upright in your eyes.
And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight no man living shall be justified.
3 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.
For the enemy hath persecuted my soul: he hath brought down my life to the earth. He hath made me to dwell in darkness as those that have been dead of old:
4 Because of this my spirit is overcome; and my heart is full of fear.
And my spirit is in anguish within me: my heart within me is troubled.
5 I keep in mind the early days of the past, giving thought to all your acts, even to the work of your hands.
I remembered the days of old, I meditated on all thy works: I meditated upon the works of thy hands.
6 My hands are stretched out to you: my soul is turned to you, like a land in need of water. (Selah)
I stretched forth my hands to thee: my soul is as earth without water unto thee.
7 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.
Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit hath fainted away. Turn not away thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8 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.
Cause me to hear thy mercy in the morning; for in thee have I hoped. Make the way known to me, wherein I should walk: for I have lifted up my soul to thee.
9 O Lord, take me out of the hands of my haters; my soul is waiting for you.
Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, to thee have I fled:
10 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.
Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God. Thy good spirit shall lead me into the right land:
11 Give me life, O Lord, because of your name; in your righteousness take my soul out of trouble.
For thy name’s sake, O Lord, thou wilt quicken me in thy justice. Thou wilt bring my soul out of trouble:
12 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.
And in thy mercy thou wilt destroy my enemies. And thou wilt cut off all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.
