Psalms 143
1 A Psalm of David, when his son Absalom was pursuing him. O Lord, hear my prayer. Incline your ear to my supplication in your truth. Heed me according to your justice.
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 And do not enter into judgment with your servant. For all the living will not be justified in your sight.
With your servant O enter you not into judgment, for in your sight can no one alive be justified.
3 For the enemy has pursued my soul. He has lowered my life to the earth. He has stationed me in darkness, like the dead of ages past.
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 And my spirit has been in anguish over me. My heart within me has been disturbed.
My spirit is faint within me, my heart is bewildered within me.
5 I have called to mind the days of antiquity. I have been meditating on all your works. I have meditated on the workings 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 have extended my hands to you. My soul is like a land without water before you.
I spread out my hands to you: I thirst for you, like parched earth. (Selah)
7 O Lord, heed me quickly. My spirit has grown faint. Do not turn your face away from me, lest I become like those who descend 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 Make me hear your mercy in the morning. For I have hoped in you. Make known to me the way that I should walk. For I have lifted 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 O Lord, rescue me from my enemies. I have fled to you.
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 good Spirit will lead me into the righteous land.
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 For the sake of your name, O Lord, you will revive me in your fairness. You will lead my soul out of tribulation.
Be true to your name Lord, spare me, bring me out of distress in your faithfulness.
12 And you will scatter my enemies in your mercy. And you will 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.
