1 A psalm of David. Lord, please hear my prayer. Because you are faithful, please listen to my appeal for mercy. Answer me because you do what is right! 2 Please don't place me, your servant, on trial, because nobody is innocent in your sight. 3 The enemy has chased me down. He crushes me to the ground. He makes me live in darkness like those who died a long time ago. 4 I sense myself fading away inside; I am overwhelmed by a sense of desolation. 5 I think of days long ago, and as I meditate I talk to myself about all you have done, I reflect on what you have accomplished. 6 I stretch out my hands to you, thirsting for you like dried-out land. Selah. 7 Please answer me quickly, Lord! I'm dying! Don't turn away otherwise I'll be just like those who are going down into the grave. 8 Tell me every morning about your trustworthy love, because I put my confidence in you. Show me the way I should go, because I dedicate myself to you. 9 Save me from those who hate me, Lord—I run to you for protection. 10 Teach me your will for you are my God. May your spirit of goodness lead me and make my way smooth. 11 Because of the kind of person you are, let me go on living. Because you always do what's right, get me out of the trouble I'm in. 12 In your trustworthy love, get rid of those who hate me, destroy all my enemies, for I am your servant.
Psalm 143 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Greek and Latin Bibles number most Psalms one lower than Hebrew and English Bibles.
Cross references (12)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 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).
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)