Psalm 143

New King James Version

An Earnest Appeal for Guidance and Deliverance

A Psalm of David.

143 Hear my prayer, O Lord,
Give ear to my supplications!
In Your faithfulness answer me,
And in Your righteousness.
²Do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
^(A)For in Your sight no one living is righteous.

³For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life to the ground;
He has made me dwell in ^[a]darkness,
Like those who have long been dead.
⁴^(B)Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;
My heart within me is distressed.

⁵^(C)I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all Your works;
I ^[b]muse on the work of Your hands.
⁶I spread out my hands to You;
^(D)My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah

⁷Answer me speedily, O Lord;
My spirit fails!
Do not hide Your face from me,
^(E)Lest I ^[c]be like those who ^[d]go down into the pit.
⁸Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness ^(F)in the morning,
For in You do I trust;
^(G)Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For ^(H)I lift up my soul to You.

⁹Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;
^[e]In You I take shelter.
¹⁰^(I)Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
^(J)Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in ^(K)the land of uprightness.

¹¹^(L)Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake!
For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
¹²In Your mercy ^(M)cut^[f] off my enemies,
And destroy all those who afflict my soul;
For I am Your servant.