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;
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 Let not your servant come before you to be judged; for no man living is upright in your eyes.
With your servant O enter you not into judgment, for in your sight can no one alive 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 persecutes me, crushing my life to the ground, making me live in the darkness, as those who have long been dead.
4 Because of this my spirit is overcome; and my heart is full of fear.
My spirit is faint within me, my heart is bewildered within me.
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 remember the days of old, and brood over all you have done, musing on all that your hands have wrought.
6 My hands are stretched out to you: my soul is turned to you, like a land in need of water. (Selah)
I spread out my hands to you: I thirst for you, like parched earth. (Selah)
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.
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 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.
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 O Lord, take me out of the hands of my haters; my soul is waiting for you.
Save me, O Lord, from my foes: for to you I have fled for refuge.
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 your will, for you yourself are my God. Guide me by your good spirit, O Lord, on a way that is smooth.
11 Give me life, O Lord, because of your name; in your righteousness take my soul out of trouble.
Be true to your name Lord, spare me, bring me out of distress in your faithfulness.
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.
In your kindness extinguish my enemies, and all those who vex me destroy; for I am your servant.
