Tap any verse number for what that verse means.
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.
Understand This
Psalm 143, explained
What Psalm 143 is saying
Psalm 143, the last of the seven Penitential Psalms, combines urgent petition for deliverance with deep awareness of personal sinfulness. David pleads for God not to enter into judgment 'for no one living is righteous before You,' then describes his crushed spirit and stretches out his hands like parched land thirsting for rain. The psalm closes with petitions for guidance, deliverance, and the destruction of enemies.
The background behind it
The superscription attributes the psalm to David, and its themes of persecution and spiritual desolation fit multiple periods of his life. Paul quotes verse 2 in Romans 3:20 and Galatians 2:16 to establish that no one is justified by works of the law, making this psalm foundational to Reformation theology.
Themes running underneath
The psalm holds together two seemingly contradictory postures: bold petition and humble confession. The psalmist urgently asks God to act 'for Your name's sake' and 'in Your righteousness,' grounding the appeal not in personal merit but in divine character. The spirit/flesh duality—crushed spirit, parched land—conveys total depletion.
Why it still matters
This psalm teaches that the proper ground for approaching God is His character, not ours. It models a prayer that is simultaneously desperate and theologically grounded, refusing to let urgency override humility.
Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.