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A Prayer Not to Be Killed

A psalm of David.

143 Lord, hear my prayer;
    ·listen [L give ear] to my ·cry for mercy [prayer of supplication].
Answer me
    because you are ·loyal [faithful] and ·good [righteous].
Don’t ·judge me [L bring me into judgment], your servant,
    because no one alive is ·right [righteous] before you [Rom. 3:22; Gal. 2:16].
My enemies are ·chasing [pursuing; persecuting] me;
    they crushed me to the ground.
They made me ·live [sit] in darkness
    like those long dead [Lam. 3:6].
·I am afraid [I am depressed; L my spirit is faint; 142:3];
    my ·courage is gone [L heart within me is desolated].

I remember ·what happened long ago [L the former days];
    I ·consider [meditated on] everything you have done.
    I ·think [considered] ·about all you have made [L the work of your hands].
I ·lift my hands to you in prayer [L spread out my hands to you].
    ·As a dry land needs rain, I thirst [L My life/soul is like a thirsty/parched land] for you. ·Selah [Interlude]

Lord, answer me quickly,
    because ·I am getting weak [L my spirit languishes].
Don’t ·turn away [L hide your face] from me,
    or I will be like those who ·are dead [L go down to the pit].
·Tell me [Make me hear] in the morning about your ·love [loyalty],
    because I ·trust [have confidence in] you.
·Show me what I should do [L Make me know the way I should walk],
    because ·my prayers go up [L I lift up my soul] to you.
Lord, ·save [protect] me from my enemies;
    I hide in you.
10 Teach me to do ·what you want [your will],
    because you are my God.
Let your good Spirit [or spirit]
    ·lead [guide] me on level ground.

11 Lord, let me live
    ·so people will praise you [L for the sake of your name].
In your ·goodness [righteousness]
    ·save me [L bring me out] from my ·troubles [distress].
12 In your ·love [loyalty] ·defeat [destroy] my enemies.
    ·Destroy [L Make perish] all those who ·trouble [distress] me,
because I am your servant.

Psalm 143

A psalm of David.

Lord, hear my prayer,(A)
    listen to my cry for mercy;(B)
in your faithfulness(C) and righteousness(D)
    come to my relief.
Do not bring your servant into judgment,
    for no one living is righteous(E) before you.
The enemy pursues me,
    he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in the darkness(F)
    like those long dead.(G)
So my spirit grows faint within me;
    my heart within me is dismayed.(H)
I remember(I) the days of long ago;
    I meditate(J) on all your works
    and consider what your hands have done.
I spread out my hands(K) to you;
    I thirst for you like a parched land.[a]

Answer me quickly,(L) Lord;
    my spirit fails.(M)
Do not hide your face(N) from me
    or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,(O)
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way(P) I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.(Q)
Rescue me(R) from my enemies,(S) Lord,
    for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me(T) to do your will,
    for you are my God;(U)
may your good Spirit
    lead(V) me on level ground.(W)

11 For your name’s sake,(X) Lord, preserve my life;(Y)
    in your righteousness,(Z) bring me out of trouble.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;(AA)
    destroy all my foes,(AB)
    for I am your servant.(AC)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 143:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.