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Psalms 143

KJV · Chapter 143/150

1Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.

2And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

3For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

4Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.

5I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

6I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

7Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

8Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

9Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

10Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

11Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

12And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

The last of the seven penitential psalms: a humble plea acknowledging that no one is righteous before God, asking for guidance ('teach me to do thy will') and deliverance from the persecution of enemies who made him dwell 'in darkness.'

Explanation

This psalm combines elements of personal lament (persecution, distress) with a striking theological confession: 'in thy sight shall no man living be justified' (v. 2), acknowledging human limitation before God's perfect justice — a theme that anticipates later New Testament discussions of the need for grace (Paul cites a similar idea in Romans 3:20). The image of being led on 'level ground' (v. 10) suggests the desire for a simple, unobstructed path amid complicated circumstances. The application for today is that asking God for daily guidance, instead of relying only on our own ability to discern the right path, is a practice of genuine humility.

Fun facts

  • Verse 2 ('in thy sight shall no man living be justified') is echoed by Paul in Romans 3:20 when he explains why no one is justified by keeping the law.
  • It is the last of the seven traditional 'penitential psalms' (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143), historically used in contexts of deep repentance.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. Psalms 143:1The request to be heard does not rest on mercy alone: he asks for a response specifically according to God’s truth and righteousness, as a standard to be met.
  2. Psalms 143:2Asking not to enter “into judgment” is admitting up front that no one would come out unscathed from a strict trial. That is why the next request is for mercy, not a verdict based on merit.
  3. Psalms 143:3Being made to live in darkness “as those that have been long dead” is an extreme way of describing immense suffering. It sounds like being buried alive, closer to the dead than to the living, even while still breathing.
  4. Psalms 143:4Repeating “within me” twice in the same verse reinforces just how internal this anguish is, felt on the inside, not merely an unpleasant outward circumstance.
  5. Psalms 143:5The strategy against despair is stated openly: deliberately remembering the days of old and God’s past works as a way of finding stability in the present.
  6. Psalms 143:6Comparing his longing for God to the thirst of ground cracked by drought is a very concrete image. It would have resonated with anyone living in a region where lack of rain was a real cause of distress.
  7. Psalms 143:7The urgency here is tied to mortality: he asks for a quick answer specifically so as not to end up like the dead, echoing the ancient view that death cuts off all contact with God.
  8. Psalms 143:8The request singles out the morning as the specific time to hear good news, linking the start of a new day to renewed guidance for the path ahead.
  9. Psalms 143:9The escape described here is not to a physical place: it is to God Himself, treated as the one reliable hiding place from his enemies.
  10. Psalms 143:10The final request is surprisingly simple: not grand miracles, but guidance onto “the land of uprightness,” a path with no obstacles for his feet, a basic and practical kind of safety.
  11. Psalms 143:11“For thy name’s sake” repeats a common argument found in other psalms: asking for action based on God’s own reputation, not on the merit of the one asking.
  12. Psalms 143:12The psalm closes by returning to his identity as a servant as the argument: since he belongs to God, he expects the enemies to be dealt with because of that relationship, not out of personal revenge.

Chapters

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