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This is a song that David wrote.

Please help me, Lord![a]

143 Lord, I pray to you for help.
    Please listen to me.
Answer me, because you do what is right,
    and I know that I can trust you.
Do not judge me, your servant.
    Nobody is righteous when they stand in front of you.
My enemies are chasing me.
    They knock me down to the ground.
They make me live in dark places,
    like people who have been dead for a long time.
My strength is leaving me,
    and I feel very upset.
I remember what happened many years ago.
    I think carefully about all the good things that you have done.
I raise my hands to pray to you.
I need you to help me,
    like dry ground needs rain.
Selah
Please answer me soon, Lord.
    I am losing my strength.
Do not turn away from me.
If you do, I will join those people who are going down
    into the deep hole of death.
Every morning, help me to remember your faithful love,
    because I am trusting in you.
Show me how I should live to please you,
    because I know that I belong to you.
Lord, save me from my enemies.
    I run to you to keep me safe.
10 Teach me to do what pleases you,
    because you are my God.
Let your kind Spirit lead me,
    so that I can walk in a safe place.
11 Your name is great, Lord,
    so please keep my life safe.
You do what is right,
    so bring me out of my troubles.
12 I am your servant and you always love me.
Please show how much you love me,
    and destroy my enemies.
Yes, kill all those who want to kill me!

Footnotes

  1. 143:1 David wrote this psalm when he had trouble. Maybe this was when his son Absalom wanted to kill him. See 1 Samuel 15—19.

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.