King James Version, Holy Bible
1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
More Psalms Chapter 143 Continued Below
3 For 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.
4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
7 Hear 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.
8 Cause 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.
9 Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
11 Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.
12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 143:8
Verse: הָרֵם אֶת-רֹאשִׁי
Transliteration: Ha-rem et-roshi
English: “Let me hear in the morning of Your steadfast love, for in You I trust; make me know the way I should go.”
Focus Word: רוּם (Rum)
- Root: ר-ו-מ (Resh-Vav-Mem)
- Meaning: “To lift,” “to elevate,” “to raise.”
- Deeper Insight: Rum conveys exaltation and uplift, reflecting a plea for God’s attention and guidance.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| תְּפִלָּה — tefillah | Verse 1 — “Hear my prayer…” | “Prayer,” supplication. | Tefillah (“prayer”) denotes sincere, covenant-based petition. It expresses deep dependence. The term sets the tone for urgent pleading. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| אֱמוּנָה — emunah | Verse 1 — “…in Your faithfulness answer me…” | “Faithfulness,” reliability. | Emunah (“faithfulness”) highlights God’s trustworthy character. It appeals to His covenant reliability. The word reinforces confidence in divine response. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| צֶדֶק — tsedeq | Verse 1 — “…and in Your righteousness.” | “Righteousness,” justice. | Tsedeq (“righteousness”) grounds the plea in God’s just nature. It expresses alignment with divine order. The term gives moral weight to the petition. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| רָדַף — radaf | Verse 3 — “The enemy has pursued my soul…” | “To pursue,” chase. | Radaf (“to pursue”) conveys relentless hostility. It amplifies the psalmist’s urgency. The word intensifies conflict imagery. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| יָשַׁב — yashav | Verse 3 — “…he has made me dwell in darkness.” | “To dwell,” remain. | Yashav (“to dwell”) reflects forced residence in despair. It illustrates emotional imprisonment. The term enhances lament. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| שׂוּם — sum | Verse 5 — “I remember the days of old…” | “To place,” set mind. | Sum (“to place/set”) conveys deliberate meditation. It signifies mental discipline oriented toward God’s deeds. The word strengthens reflective tone. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| פָּרַשׂ — paras | Verse 6 — “I spread out my hands…” | “To spread,” extend. | Paras (“to spread”) expresses desperate appeal through posture. It portrays longing for divine intervention. The verb enriches the Psalmist’s vulnerability. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| מַהֵר — maher | Verse 7 — “Answer me speedily…” | “To hurry,” hasten. | Maher (“to hurry”) conveys urgent need for divine response. It reflects overwhelming despair. The word intensifies the immediacy of the plea. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| נֶפֶשׁ — nefesh | Verse 8 — “…lift up my soul to You.” | “Soul,” whole person. | Nefesh (“soul”) expresses total being directed toward God. It conveys vulnerability and dependence. The term enhances devotional intensity. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| הוֹרֵנִי — horeni | Verse 10 — “Teach me to do Your will…” | “To teach,” instruct. | Horeni (“to teach”) reflects desire for moral direction. It emphasizes alignment with God’s will. The word closes the Psalm with discipleship focus. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 143 |
|---|---|---|
| Richard Sibbes (University of Cambridge, 1577–1635) | The Bruised Reed | Sibbes underscores the Psalmist’s urgent request for guidance and strength in times of weakness. |
| John Howe (University of Cambridge, 1630–1705) | The Living Temple | Howe interprets the Psalm as showing reliance on God’s mercy rather than personal effort. |
| William Perkins (University of Cambridge, 1558–1602) | Commentary on the Psalms | Perkins highlights that divine instruction and illumination are central to navigating spiritual distress. |
| Thomas Manton (University of Cambridge, 1620–1677) | Expositions of the Psalms | Manton emphasizes that expressing despair honestly in prayer fosters deeper communion with God. |
| Samuel Rutherford (University of St Andrews, 1600–1661) | Letters | Rutherford notes that acknowledging human frailty in prayer invites God’s sustaining power. |
Prayer: You alone are worthy O God to be praised and worshipped. May your Kingdom come and may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We thank you, Lord, because you are so good, and Your mercy endures forever. When people rise up to destroy us, You protect us, and when the devil seeks to hurt us You give your angels charge over us to keep us in all of our ways. Thank you God, for your faithfulness, Your loving-kindness and mercy that endures to all generations, in Jesus' Name. Amen.
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