Psalm 143¹⁴

A psalm of David
143:1 O LORD, hear my prayer!
Pay attention to my plea for help!
Because of your faithfulness and justice, answer me!
143:2 Do not sit in judgment on¹ your servant,
for no one alive is innocent before you.²
143:3 Certainly³ my enemies⁴ chase me,
they smash me into the ground.⁵
They force me to live⁶ in dark regions,⁷
like those who have been dead for ages.
143:4 My strength leaves me,⁸
I am absolutely shocked.⁹
143:5 I recall the old days,¹⁰
I meditate on all you have done,
I reflect on your accomplishments.¹¹
143:6 I spread my hands out to you in prayer,¹²
my soul thirsts for you in a parched¹³ land.¹⁴
143:7 Answer me quickly, LORD!
My strength is fading.¹⁵
Do not reject me,¹⁶
or I will join¹⁷ those descending into the grave.¹⁸
143:8 May I hear about your loyal love in the morning,¹⁹
for I trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,²⁰
because I long for you.²¹
143:9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD!
I run to you for protection.²²
143:10 Teach me to do what pleases you,²³
for you are my God.
May your kind presence²⁴
lead me²⁵ into a level land.²⁶
143:11 O LORD, for the sake of your reputation²⁷ revive me!²⁸
Because of your justice rescue me from trouble!²⁹
143:12 As a demonstration of your loyal love,³⁰ destroy my enemies!
Annihilate³¹ all who threaten my life,³²
for I am your servant.