PSALM 143 [†] Hear my prayer, O LORD;

 c give ear to my pleas for mercy!

In your  d faithfulness answer me, in your  d righteousness!

2[^]  e Enter not into judgment with your servant,

for no one living is righteous  f before you.

3[†] For the enemy has pursued my soul;

 g he has crushed my life to the ground;

 h he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.

4[†] Therefore my spirit  i faints within me;

my heart within me is appalled.

5[†]  j I remember the days of old;

 k I meditate on all that you have done;

I ponder the work of your hands.

6  l I stretch out my hands to you;

 m my soul thirsts for you like  n a parched land. Selah

7[†]  o Answer me quickly, O LORD!

 p My spirit fails!

 q Hide not your face from me,

 r lest I be like those who go down to the pit.

8  s Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,

for in you I  t trust.

 u Make me know the way I should go,

 v for to you I lift up my soul.

9[†]  w Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD!

I have fled to you for refuge. [1]

10  x Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God!

 y Let your good Spirit  z lead me

on  a level ground!

11  b For your name’s sake, O LORD,  c preserve my life!

In your righteousness  d bring my soul out of trouble!

12 And in your steadfast love you will  e cut off my enemies,

and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,

for I am your  f servant.

Of David.