(143) A Psalm of David, when his son pursued him.
1O Lord, attend to my prayer: listen to my supplication in your truth; hear me in your righteousness.
2And enter not into judgment with your servant, for in your sight shall no man living be justified.
3For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has brought my life down to the ground; he has made me to dwell in a dark place, as those that have been long dead.
4Therefore my spirit was grieved in me; my heart was troubled within me.
5I remembered the days of old; and I meditated on all your doings: yes, I meditated on the works of your hands.
6I spread forth my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you, as a dry land. Pause.
7Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit has failed; turn not away your face from me, else I shall be like to them that go down to the pit.
8Cause me to hear your mercy in the morning; for I have hoped in you; make known to me, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk; for I have lifted up my soul to you.
9Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord; for I have fled to you for refuge.
10Teach me to do your will; for you are my God; your good Spirit shall guide me in the 1 straight way.
11You shall quicken me, O Lord, for your name's sake; in your righteousness you shall bring my soul out of affliction.
12And in your mercy you will destroy my enemies, and will destroy all those that afflict my soul; for I am your servant.
- Alex. as Heb. 'land of uprightness.'
Text: the Septuagint in the translation of Sir Lancelot C. L. Brenton (1851), revised in American English by Michael Paul Johnson (LXX2012). Public domain. The Old Testament of the Eastern Orthodox Bible is in preparation.
