The Bible — World English Bible
Psalm 143
In brief
Psalm 143 is a psalm of David, one of the seven penitential psalms of the Christian tradition. David is pursued and downcast, and his spirit is troubled. He does not plead his own righteousness: no one living is righteous before God. He remembers the Lord's past works, stretches out his hands to him like a parched land, then asks to hear his loving kindness in the morning, to know the way, and to be led by God's good Spirit. It is a psalm for praying when you can no longer see the road.
The chapter in 4 parts
1Hear my prayer, Yahweh. Listen to my petitions. In your faithfulness and righteousness, relieve me.
2Don’t enter into judgment with your servant, for in your sight no man living is righteous.
3For the enemy pursues my soul. He has struck my life down to the ground. He has made me live in dark places, as those who have been long dead.
4Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me. My heart within me is desolate.
5I remember the days of old. I meditate on all your doings. I contemplate the work of your hands.
6I spread out my hands to you. My soul thirsts for you, like a parched land.
7Hurry to answer me, Yahweh. My spirit fails. Don’t hide your face from me, so that I don’t become like those who go down into the pit.
8Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning, for I trust in you. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to you.
9Deliver me, Yahweh, from my enemies. I flee to you to hide me.
10Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.
11Revive me, Yahweh, for your name’s sake. In your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble.
12In your loving kindness, cut off my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul, For I am your servant.
Key verses
Don’t enter into judgment with your servant, for in your sight no man living is righteous.
David claims no right. He asks God not to enter into judgment, because no one is righteous before him. Paul quotes this verse in Romans 3:20 and Galatians 2:16.
I remember the days of old. I meditate on all your doings. I contemplate the work of your hands. I spread out my hands to you. My soul thirsts for you, like a parched land.
Instead of brooding over his distress, David remembers and meditates on what God has done. Then he stretches out his hands to him, thirsty like a parched land.
Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning, for I trust in you. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to you.
A morning prayer: to hear God's loving kindness before any other noise, and to ask for the way to walk. Trust comes before direction.
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.
Asking God to teach you his will, and letting yourself be led by his good Spirit. Direction does not come from effort alone but from a God who teaches.
Bible verses to meditate on
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Frequently asked questions about Psalm 143
What does Psalm 143 mean?
It is the prayer of an exhausted believer who has nothing to put forward before God except his faithfulness and righteousness. He remembers the past, admits his thirst for God and asks for concrete direction. The psalm teaches us to pray with humility and to wait for God to show the way, rather than trying to solve everything alone.
Who wrote Psalm 143?
The title attributes it to David. He speaks of an enemy who pursues him and makes him live in darkness, which recalls his years of flight from Saul, or Absalom's revolt according to some commentators. The text does not decide, but it keeps its strength whatever the situation.
How do you pray Psalm 143 every morning?
You can take verse 8 as the opening prayer of the day: ask to hear God's loving kindness in the morning, then to know the way. Add verse 10 to ask to be taught and led by his good Spirit. Reread verse 5 to remind yourself of one thing God has done.
Articles quoting Psalm 143
World English Bible translation — public domain.