Psalm 143

A Psalm of David.

SECOND VERSION (6.6.6.6.D.)

1        Oh, hear my prayer, Lord,

                   And unto my desire

          To bow thine ear accord,

                   I humbly thee require;

          And, in thy faithfulness,

                   Unto me answer make,

          And, in thy righteousness,

                   Upon me pity take.

2        In judgment enter not

                   With me thy servant poor;

          For why, this well I wot,

                   No sinner can endure

          The sight of thee, O God:

                   If thou his deeds shalt try,

          He dare make none abode

                   Himself to justify.

3        Behold, the cruel foe

                   Me persecutes with spite,

          My soul to overthrow:

                   Yea, he my life down quite

          Unto the ground hath smote,

                   And made me dwell full low

          In darkness, as forgot,

                   Or men dead long ago.

4        Therefore my sp'rit much vex'd,

                   O'erwhelm'd is me within;

          My heart right sore perplex'd

                   And desolate hath been.

5        Yet I do call to mind

                   What ancient days record,

          Thy works of ev'ry kind

                   I think upon, O Lord.

6        Lo, I do stretch my hands

                   To thee, my help alone;

          For thou well understands

                   All my complaint and moan:

          My thirsting soul desires,

                   And longeth after thee,

          As thirsty ground requires

                   With rain refresh'd to be.

7        Lord, let my pray'r prevail,

                   To answer it make speed;

          For, lo, my sp'rit doth fail:

                   Hide not thy face in need;

          Lest I be like to those

                   That do in darkness sit,

          Or him that downward goes

                   Into the dreadful pit.

8        Because I trust in thee,

                   O Lord, cause me to hear

          Thy lovingkindness free,

                   When morning doth appear:

          Cause me to know the way

                   Wherein my path should be;

          For why, my soul on high

                   I do lift up to thee.

9        From my fierce enemy

                   In safety do me guide,

          Because I flee to thee,

                   Lord, that thou may'st me hide.

10      My God alone art thou,

                   Teach me thy righteousness:

          Thy Sp'rit's good, lead me to

                   The land of uprightness.

11      O Lord, for thy name's sake,

                   Be pleas'd to quicken me;

          And, for thy truth, forth take

                   My soul from misery.

12      And of thy grace destroy

                   My foes, and put to shame

          All who my soul annoy;

                   For I thy servant am.