Psalm 143:4-6

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Psalm 143:4 tn Heb “my spirit grows faint.”
2. Psalm 143:4 tn Heb “in my midst my heart is shocked.” For a similar use of the Hitpolel of שָׁמֵם (shamem), see Isa 59:16; 63:5.
3. Psalm 143:5 tn Or “ancient times”; Heb “days from before.”
4. Psalm 143:5 tn Heb “the work of your hands.”
5. Psalm 143:6 tn The words “in prayer” are supplied in the translation to clarify that the psalmist is referring to a posture of prayer.
6. Psalm 143:6 tn Heb “faint” or “weary.” See Ps 63:1.
7. Psalm 143:6 tc Heb “my soul like a faint land for you.” A verb (perhaps “thirsts”) is implied (see Ps 63:1). The translation assumes an emendation of the preposition כ (kaf, “like”) to ב (bet, “in,” see Ps 63:1; cf. NEB “athirst for thee in a thirsty land”). If the MT is retained, one might translate, “my soul thirsts for you, as a parched land does for water/rain” (cf. NIV, NRSV).