Psa 143 | HCSB | STEP | A Davidic psalm . Lord , hear my prayer . In Your faithfulness listen to my plea , and in Your righteousness answer me.

Psalms 143

A Cry for Help

1 A Davidic psalm.

Lord, hear my prayer.
In Your faithfulness listen to my plea,
and in Your righteousness answer me. ^a
2 Do not bring Your servant into judgment, ^b
for no one alive is righteous in Your sight. ^c

3 For the enemy has pursued me,
crushing me to the ground,
making me live in darkness
like those long dead. ^d
4 My spirit is weak within me;
my heart is overcome with dismay. ^e

5 I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all You have done;
I reflect on the work of Your hands. ^f
6 I spread out my hands to You;
I am like parched land before You. ^{g
,} ^{▼▼Selah: A Hebrew word whose meaning is uncertain; various interpretations include: (1) a musical notation, (2) a pause for silence, (3) a signal for worshipers to fall prostrate on the ground, (4) a term for the worshipers to call out, and (5) a word meaning "forever"}
Selah

7 Answer me quickly, Lord;
my spirit fails. ⁱ
Don’t hide Your face from me,
or I will be like those
going down to the ^{▼▼Pit: Either the grave or the realm of the dead}Pit. ^k
8 Let me experience
Your faithful love in the morning,
for I trust in You. ^l
Reveal to me the way I should go
because I long for You. ^m
9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord;
I come to You for protection. ^{▼▼One Hb ms, LXX; some Hb mss read I cover myself to You
,} ^o
10 Teach me to do Your will,
for You are my God. ^p
May Your gracious Spirit
lead me on level ground. ^q

11 Because of Your name, ^{▼▼Yahweh/Yah: Or The Lord; the personal name of God in Hebrew; "Yah" is the shortened form of the name.}Yahweh,
let me live.
In Your righteousness deliver me from trouble, ^s
12 and in Your faithful love destroy my enemies.
Wipe out all those who attack me,
for I am Your servant. ^t