Psalm 143

English Standard Version

1 A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness! (Ps 31:1; Ps 140:6; 1Jo 1:9)2 Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. (1Ki 8:46; Job 9:2; Job 14:3; Job 15:14; Job 25:4; Ps 130:3; Ec 7:20; Ro 3:23; 1Co 4:4)3 For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. (Ps 88:3; La 3:6)4 Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled. (Ps 77:3)5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. (Ps 77:5; Ps 77:11; Ps 77:12; Ps 111:2)6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. (Job 11:13; Ps 42:2; Ps 63:1)7 Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. (Ps 27:9; Ps 28:1; Ps 69:17; Ps 84:2; Ps 88:4; Ps 102:2)8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. (Ps 11:1; Ps 25:1; Ps 25:2; Ps 25:4; Ps 90:14)9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to you for refuge.[1] (Ps 59:1; Ps 142:6)10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! (Ne 9:20; Ps 23:3; Ps 27:11; Ps 119:12; Isa 26:10)11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! (Ps 23:3; Ps 25:11; Ps 71:20; Ps 142:7)12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant. (Ps 54:5; Ps 116:16)

Psalm 143

New International Version

1 Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.2 Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no-one living is righteous before you.3 The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead.4 So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.5 I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.6 I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.[1]7 Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit.8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you.10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.11 For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

Psalm 143

King James Version

1 A Psalm of David. 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' 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.

Psalm 143

New International Reader’s Version

1 LORD, hear my prayer. Listen to my cry for mercy. You are faithful and right. Come and help me.2 Don’t take me to court and judge me, because in your eyes no living person does what is right.3 My enemies chase me. They crush me down to the ground. They make me live in the darkness like those who died long ago.4 So I grow weak. Deep down inside me, I’m afraid.5 I remember what happened long ago. I spend time thinking about all your acts. I consider what your hands have done.6 I spread out my hands to you in prayer. I’m thirsty for you, just as dry ground is thirsty for rain.7 LORD, answer me quickly. I’m growing weak. Don’t turn your face away from me, or I will be like those who go down into the grave.8 In the morning let me hear about your faithful love, because I’ve put my trust in you. Show me the way I should live, because I trust you with my life.9 LORD, save me from my enemies, because I go to you for safety.10 Teach me to do what you want, because you are my God. May your good Spirit lead me on a level path.11 LORD, bring yourself honour by keeping me alive. Because you do what is right, get me out of trouble.12 Because your love is faithful, put an end to my enemies. Destroy all of them, because I serve you.