< Psalms 143 >
1 [A Psalm by David.] Hear my prayer, YHWH. Listen to my petitions. In your faithfulness and righteousness, relieve me.
Yahweh, hear me while I pray to you! Because you are righteous and because you faithfully do what you have promised, listen to what I am pleading that you [do for me].
2 Do not enter into judgment with your servant, for in your sight no man living is righteous.
I am one who serves you; do not judge me, because you know that everyone has done things that are wrong).
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.
[My] enemies have pursued me; they have completely defeated me. [It is as though] they have put me in a dark [prison], where I [have nothing good to] ([hope for/expect]), like those who died long ago [SIM].
4 Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me. My heart within me is desolate.
So I am very discouraged; I am very dismayed/worried.
5 I remember the days of old. I meditate on all your doings. I contemplate the work of your hands.
I remember what has happened previously: I (meditate on/think about) all the things that you have done; I consider [all] the [great] deeds that you [SYN] have performed.
6 I spread forth my hands to you. My soul thirsts for you, like a parched land. (Selah)
I lift up my hands/arms to you while I pray; I [SYN] need you, like very dry ground [needs rain] [SIM].
7 Hurry to answer me, YHWH. My spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me, so that I do not become like those who go down into the pit.
Yahweh, I am very discouraged, [so] please answer me right now! Do not hide from me, because if you do that, I will [soon] be [SIM] among those who descend to where the dead people are.
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.
[Every] morning cause me to remember that you faithfully love [me], because I trust in you. I (pray/send my prayers up [IDM]) to you; show me what I should do.
9 Deliver me, YHWH, from my enemies. I run to you for refuge.
Yahweh, I have gone/run to you to be protected, [so] rescue me from my enemies.
10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.
You are my God; teach me to do what you want me to do. I want your good Spirit to lead me on a path that is not difficult to walk on.
11 Revive me, YHWH, for your name's sake. In your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble.
Yahweh, restore me when I am close to dying, as you promised to do. Because you are righteous/good, rescue me from my troubles/difficulties!
12 In your loving kindness, cut off my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul, For I am your servant.
I am one who serves you; so because you faithfully love [me], kill my enemies and get rid of all those who (oppress/cause trouble for) me.