1 A Psalm of David, when his son Absalom was pursuing him. O Lord, hear my prayer. Incline your ear to my supplication in your truth. Heed me according to your justice. 2 And do not enter into judgment with your servant. For all the living will not be justified in your sight. 3 For the enemy has pursued my soul. He has lowered my life to the earth. He has stationed me in darkness, like the dead of ages past. 4 And my spirit has been in anguish over me. My heart within me has been disturbed. 5 I have called to mind the days of antiquity. I have been meditating on all your works. I have meditated on the workings of your hands. 6 I have extended my hands to you. My soul is like a land without water before you. 7 O Lord, heed me quickly. My spirit has grown faint. Do not turn your face away from me, lest I become like those who descend into the pit. 8 Make me hear your mercy in the morning. For I have hoped in you. Make known to me the way that I should walk. For I have lifted up my soul to you. 9 O Lord, rescue me from my enemies. I have fled to you. 10 Teach me to do your will. For you are my God. Your good Spirit will lead me into the righteous land. 11 For the sake of your name, O Lord, you will revive me in your fairness. You will lead my soul out of tribulation. 12 And you will scatter my enemies in your mercy. And you will destroy all those who afflict my soul. For I am your servant.
Psalms · Catholic Public Domain Version
Psalm 142 (143) Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · Psalm 143 · About the recordings
Notes on this text (4)
- Greek and Latin Bibles number most Psalms one lower than Hebrew and English Bibles.
- Psalms follow the Greek/Latin numbering, with the psalm titles counted as verse 1 (as in the Vulgate).
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
Cross references (12)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info. References use English (Hebrew-based) verse numbers; links open the passage in CPDV.
- 1 Psalm 71:2; Psalm 31:1; Psalm 140:6; Daniel 9:16; 1 John 1:9
- 2 Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:20; Job 25:4; Psalm 130:3; 1 John 1:10
- 3 Lamentations 3:6; Psalm 7:5; Psalm 7:1–2; Psalm 88:4–6; Psalm 142:6
- 4 Psalm 142:3; Psalm 77:3; Psalm 102:3–4; Psalm 55:5; Luke 22:44
- 5 Psalm 77:10–12; Psalm 77:5–6; Micah 6:5; Psalm 111:4; 1 Samuel 17:45–50
- 6 Job 11:13; Psalm 63:1; Psalm 88:9; Psalm 84:2; Psalm 42:1–2
- 7 Psalm 69:17; Psalm 28:1; Psalm 27:9; Psalm 71:12; Isaiah 38:18
- 8 Psalm 25:4–5; Proverbs 3:5–6; Psalm 32:8; Isaiah 48:17; Isaiah 30:21
- 9 Proverbs 18:10; Psalm 61:3–4; Psalm 59:1; Psalm 142:5; Psalm 31:15
- 10 Psalm 25:4–5; John 14:26; Hebrews 13:21; Psalm 23:3; Psalm 119:12
- 11 Psalm 31:1; Ephesians 2:4–5; Psalm 119:25; Psalm 71:2; Psalm 138:7
- 12 Psalm 54:5; Psalm 116:16; Psalm 119:94; Psalm 52:5; Psalm 136:15–20
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations). Verse numbers below follow the Hebrew/English numbering: 143.
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
"With my voice have I cried unto the Lord" (ver. 1). It were enough to say, "with voice:" not for nothing perhaps has "my" been added. For many cry unto the Lord, not with their own voice, but with the voice of their body.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)
Forgive her, O Lord, forgive her, I beseech Thee; "enter not into judgment" with her. Let Thy mercy be exalted above Thy justice, because Thy words are true, and Thou hast promised mercy unto "the merciful;" which Thou gavest them to be who wilt "have mercy" on whom Thou wilt "have mercy," and wilt "have compassion" on whom Thou hast …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
… of the prophets;--and Samuel was called the Seer; and David says distinctly, The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and in the Psalms, And take not thy Holy Spirit from me, and again, Thy good Spirit shall lead me in the land of righteousness.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
… the Son is holy, for to the creature holiness was brought in from without, but to the Spirit holiness is the fulfilment of nature, and it is for this reason that He is described not as being sanctified, but as sanctifying. He is called good, as the Father is good, and He who was begotten of the Good is good, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)
Finally, O Lord, who art God, and not flesh and blood, if man doth see anything less, can anything lie hid from "Thy good Spirit," who shall "lead me into the land of uprightness," which Thou Thyself, by those words, wert about to reveal to future readers, although he through whom they were spoken, amid the many interpretations that might …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)