Psalm 143

Do Not Bring Your Servant Into Judgment

¹Lord , hear my prayer.

Give ear to my cry for mercy.

In your faithfulness, answer me in your righteousness.

²Do not bring charges against your servant,

because no one living can be righteous before you.

³For the enemy pursues my soul.

He crushes my life to the ground.

He makes me dwell in dark places like those long dead,

⁴so my spirit grows faint inside me.

Within me my heart is devastated.

⁵I remember the days of long ago.

I meditate on all your works,

and I consider what your hands have done.

⁶I spread out my hands to you.

My soul thirsts for you like a weary land. Interlude

⁷Hurry, answer me, Lord .

My spirit fails.

Do not hide your face from me,

or I will be like those who go down to the pit.

⁸Let me hear about your mercy in the morning,

for I have put my trust in you.

Teach me the way that I should go,

for I lift up my soul to you.

⁹Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord ,

for I hide myself in you.

¹⁰Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God.

May your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

¹¹For the sake of your name, O Lord , preserve my life.

In your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.

¹²In your mercy, wipe out my enemies,

and destroy all who threaten my life,

for I am your servant.