Psalms 143
[1]David prayeth to be considered with favour in judgment: [3]his griefs caused by his enemy's persecution: [5]he strengtheneth his faith by meditation and prayer: [7]he prayeth for speedy help and deliverance, [10]for God's guidance and support, [12]and destruction of his enemies.
A Psalm of David.
1. Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
2. And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
3. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
4. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
5. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
6. I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
7. Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
9. Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
10. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
11. Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.
12. And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.
A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.
NKJV
1.
Hear my prayer, O Lord,
Give ear to my supplications!
In Your faithfulness answer me,
And in Your righteousness.
2.
Do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For in Your sight no one living is righteous.
3.
For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life to the ground;
He has made me dwell in darkness,
Like those who have long been dead.
4.
Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;
My heart within me is distressed.
5.
I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all Your works;
I muse on the work of Your hands.
6.
I spread out my hands to You;
My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah
7.
Answer me speedily, O Lord;
My spirit fails!
Do not hide Your face from me,
Lest I be like those who go down into the pit.
8.
Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For in You do I trust;
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For I lift up my soul to You.
9.
Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;
In You I take shelter.
10.
Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in the land of uprightness.
11.
Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake!
For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
12.
In Your mercy cut off my enemies,
And destroy all those who afflict my soul;
For I am Your servant.
Hear my prayer, O Lord,
Give ear to my supplications!
In Your faithfulness answer me,
And in Your righteousness.
Do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For in Your sight no one living is righteous.
For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life to the ground;
He has made me dwell in darkness,
Like those who have long been dead.
Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;
My heart within me is distressed.
I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all Your works;
I muse on the work of Your hands.
I spread out my hands to You;
My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah
Answer me speedily, O Lord;
My spirit fails!
Do not hide Your face from me,
Lest I be like those who go down into the pit.
Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For in You do I trust;
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For I lift up my soul to You.
Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;
In You I take shelter.
Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in the land of uprightness.
Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake!
For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
In Your mercy cut off my enemies,
And destroy all those who afflict my soul;
For I am Your servant.
Metrical version
Psalm 143
C.M. St. Mary, Dundee
LORD, hear my pray'r, attend my suits; and in thy faithfulness Give thou an answer unto me, and in thy righteousness. Thy servant also bring thou not in judgment to be tried: Because no living man can be in thy sight justified. For th' en'my hath pursued my soul, my life to ground down tread: In darkness he hath made me dwell, as who have long been dead. My spirit is therefore overwhelmed in me perplexedly; Within me is my very heart amazed wondrously. I call to mind the days of old, to meditate I use On all thy works; upon the deeds I of thy hands do muse. My hands to thee I stretch; my soul thirsts, as dry land, for thee. Haste, Lord, to hear, my spirit fails: hide not thy face from me; Lest like to them I do become that go down to the dust. At morn let me thy kindness hear; for in thee do I trust. Teach me the way that I should walk: I lift my soul to thee. LORD, free me from my foes; I flee to thee to cover me. Because thou art my God, to do thy will do me instruct: Thy Spirit is good, me to the land of uprightness conduct. Revive and quicken me, O LORD, ev'n for thine own name's sake; And do thou, for thy righteousness, my soul from trouble take. And of thy mercy slay my foes; let all destroyed be That do afflict my soul: for I a servant am to thee.
This psalm was framed by David when obliged by Saul's persecution to hide himself in a cave, 1 Sam. 22:1 or 24:3. It contains, (1.) Bitter complaints of the subtilty, strength, and malice of his enemies, and of the coldness and indifference of his friends, ver. 1-4, 6. (2.) The comfort he took in God's knowing his way, and in recognizing his claim to God as his portion, ver. 3-5. (3.) His pleasant expectations that his God would deliver him, and that his fellow saints would join with him in thanksgiving for his deliverance, ver. 6-7.
If all men forsake me, if all men harass me, let me cast my burdens on the Lord, that he may sustain me. Let me renew my believing claims to him as my Lord, my God, my Refuge, and my Portion. Let me rest firmly on his characters and promises, for his sympathy, help, and deliverance.
Psalm 143 (second version)
6 6 6 6 D St. Mary, Dundee
Oh, hear my prayer, LORD, And unto my desire To bow thine ear accord, I humbly thee require; And, in thy faithfulness, Unto me answer make, And, in thy righteousness, Upon me pity take. In judgment enter not With me thy servant poor; For why, this well I wot, No sinner can endure The sight of thee, O God: If thou his deeds shalt try, He dare make none abode Himself to justify. Behold, the cruel foe Me persecutes with spite, My soul to overthrow: Yea, he my life down quite Unto the ground hath smote, And made me dwell full low In darkness, as forgot, Or men dead long ago. Therefore my spirit much vexed, O'erwhelmed is me within; My heart right sore perplexed And desolate hath been. Yet I do call to mind What ancient days record, Thy works of ev'ry kind I think upon, O Lord. Lo, I do stretch my hands To thee, my help alone; For thou well understands All my complaint and moan: My thirsting soul desires, And longeth after thee, As thirsty ground requires With rain refreshed to be. LORD, let my pray'r prevail, To answer it make speed; For, lo, my spirit doth fail: Hide not thy face in need; Lest I be like to those That do in darkness sit, Or him that downward goes Into the dreadful pit. Because I trust in thee, O Lord, cause me to hear Thy loving-kindness free, When morning doth appear: Cause me to know the way Wherein my path should be; For why, my soul on high I do lift up to thee. From my fierce enemy In safety do me guide, Because I flee to thee, LORD, that thou may'st me hide. My God alone art thou, Teach me thy righteousness: Thy Spirit 's good, lead me to The land of uprightness. O LORD, for thy name's sake, Be pleased to quicken me; And, for thy truth, forth take My soul from misery. And of thy grace destroy My foes, and put to shame All who my soul annoy; For I thy servant am.
This psalm was probably penned by David during the unnatural rebellion of his son Absalom, as Psalm 3, 42, 43. It contains, (1.) Sad complaints of trouble, and of the sinking of his spirit under it, ver. 3-5, 7. (2.) Fervent supplications that God would hear his prayer; ver. 1, 7; forgive his sins, ver. 2; manifest his favours, ver. 6-8; direct him in the way of duty, ver. 8-10; quicken him in it, ver. 11; deliver him out of trouble, ver.9, 11; and, in fine, punish his persecutors, ver. 12.
What time my heart is overwhelmed, let God lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. Let me study to have my sin removed first, in order that my troubles may remove in due order, and with a rich blessing.