Teach Me to Do Your Will
Psalm 143 summary: what it means
Psalm 143 is a prayer from someone crushed by an enemy. It opens by asking God to hear and to answer in his faithfulness and righteousness. Then it asks God not to enter into judgment, because no one living is righteous before him. The enemy has struck the speaker down and made him live in dark places like the long dead. His spirit is overwhelmed and his heart desolate.
He remembers what God did in the past and reaches out to him like parched land. The second half is a string of requests: answer quickly, let me hear your loving kindness in the morning, show me the way, teach me to do your will. It ends by asking God to deal with the enemies, because I am your servant.
Psalm 143: Teach Me to Do Your Will
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-143
Psalm 143 commentary: explained verse by verse
Hear my prayer, LORD.Listen to my petitions.In your faithfulness and righteousness, relieve me.
Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
The psalm opens with a request to be heard. The speaker appeals to God's faithfulness and righteousness, not his own. He asks for relief.
Also read 2 Samuel 7:25, Daniel 9:16, Psalm 89:1-2, Psalm 31:1
Don’t enter into judgment with your servant,for in your sight no man living is righteous.
And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
The speaker asks God not to enter into judgment with him, because no one living is righteous in God's sight. He does not claim to be innocent. His appeal rests on God's character from verse 1.
Also read Job 14:3, Job 4:17, Galatians 2:16, Job 9:2-3
For the enemy pursues my soul.He has struck my life down to the ground.He has made me live in dark places, as those who have been long dead.
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.
The enemy has pursued him and struck his life down to the ground. He has been made to live in dark places, like those who have been long dead. It is a picture of life that feels like burial.
Also read Lamentations 3:6, Psalm 142:6, 2 Samuel 2:22, Psalm 88:4-6
Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me.My heart within me is desolate.
Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
The result is inner collapse. His spirit is overwhelmed within him, and his heart within him is desolate.
Also read Job 6:27, Psalm 77:3, Psalm 142:3, Psalm 124:4
I remember the days of old.I meditate on all your doings.I contemplate the work of your hands.
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
The speaker turns to memory. He remembers the days of old, meditates on all God has done and contemplates the work of his hands. The past becomes the ground for the present prayer.
Also read Psalm 111:4, 1 Samuel 17:45-50, Psalm 77:5-6, Isaiah 63:7-14
I spread out my hands to you.My soul thirsts for you, like a parched land. Selah.
I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
Remembering leads to reaching out. He spreads out his hands to God, and his soul thirsts for him like parched land. Selah follows.
Also read Job 11:13, Psalm 44:20, Isaiah 26:8-9, Psalm 88:9
Hurry to answer me, LORD.My spirit fails.Don’t hide your face from me,so that I don’t become like those who go down into the pit.
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.
The prayer becomes urgent. Hurry to answer, the speaker says, my spirit fails. He asks God not to hide his face, so that he does not become like those who go down into the pit.
Also read Isaiah 38:18, Psalm 102:2, Psalm 88:10-11, Psalm 69:17
Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning,for I trust in you.Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,for I lift up my soul to you.
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.
This verse asks for two things. Let me hear your loving kindness in the morning, because I trust in you. Show me the way I should walk, because I lift up my soul to you.
Also read Hosea 6:3, Psalm 86:4, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 5:8
Deliver me, LORD, from my enemies.I flee to you to hide me.
Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
He asks the LORD to deliver him from his enemies. He flees to God to hide him.
Also read Hebrews 6:18, Proverbs 18:10, Psalm 59:1, Psalm 31:15
Teach me to do your will,for you are my God.Your Spirit is good.Lead me in the land of uprightness.
Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
The request moves from rescue to guidance. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God, the speaker says. He calls God's Spirit good and asks to be led in the land of uprightness.
Also read Psalm 119:5-7, Psalm 119:35, Isaiah 63:14, Psalm 140:6
Revive me, LORD, for your name’s sake.In your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble.
Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
He asks God to revive him for the sake of God's name, and in his righteousness to bring him out of trouble. The appeal is again to God's character, as in verse 1.
Also read Psalm 34:19, Psalm 25:17, Psalm 143:1, Ephesians 2:4-5
In your loving kindness, cut off my enemies,and destroy all those who afflict my soul,for I am your servant.
And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.
The psalm ends by asking God, in his loving kindness, to cut off the enemies and destroy those who afflict the speaker. The last reason given is simple: for I am your servant.
Also read Psalm 119:94, Psalm 55:23, Psalm 136:15-20, 1 Samuel 26:10
A prayer from Psalm 143
Hear my prayer, LORD. Listen to my petitions. In your faithfulness and righteousness, relieve me. Do not enter into judgement with your servant, for no one living is righteous in your sight. My spirit is overwhelmed, and my heart is desolate. I remember the days of old and think about all you have done. I spread out my hands to you. My soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Let me hear your loving kindness in the morning, for I trust in you. Show me the way I should walk. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Amen.
Psalm 143 Bible study questions
- In verses 3 and 4, what has the enemy done, and how does the writer describe his own spirit and heart?
- In verse 5, what three things does the writer do with the past?
- Verse 6 says my soul thirsts for you, like a parched land. What does spiritual thirst feel like to you?
- Verse 10 asks teach me to do your will. How do you usually go about looking for guidance?
- Psalm 63:1 also speaks of a soul that thirsts for God in a dry land. How does it compare with Psalm 143:6?
Questions about Psalm 143
What is the meaning of Psalm 143?
It is a prayer for mercy and rescue from someone overwhelmed by an enemy. The speaker asks God not to judge him, remembers God's past works, and asks to be answered, guided and taught to do God's will.
Who wrote Psalm 143?
The heading attributes it to David.
What does Psalm 143:8 say in the KJV?
The King James Version reads "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."
What do Psalm 143:8 to 10 mean?
They hold the psalm's central requests: to hear God's loving kindness in the morning, to be shown the way to walk, to be delivered from enemies and to be taught to do God's will.
What does Psalm 143:7 mean?
It is an urgent plea to be answered quickly, because the speaker's spirit is failing. He asks God not to hide his face, so that he does not become like those who go down into the pit.
Is Psalm 143 a penitential psalm?
Yes. It is one of the seven psalms grouped as the penitential psalms, with Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102 and 130.
Psalm 143 KJV: the King James Version
Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.1
And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.2
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.3
Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.4
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.5
I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.6
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.7
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.8
Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.9
Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.10
Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.11
And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.12
Psalm 143 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 מִזְמ֗וֹר לְדָ֫וִ֥ד יְהוָ֤ה ׀ שְׁמַ֬ע תְּפִלָּתִ֗י הַאֲזִ֥ינָה אֶל־תַּחֲנוּנַ֑י בֶּאֱמֻנָתְךָ֥ עֲ֝נֵ֗נִי בְּצִדְקָתֶֽךָ׃
2 וְאַל־תָּב֣וֹא בְ֭מִשְׁפָּט אֶת־עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ כִּ֤י לֹֽא־יִצְדַּ֖ק לְפָנֶ֣יךָ כָל־חָֽי׃
3 כִּ֥י רָ֘דַ֤ף אוֹיֵ֨ב ׀ נַפְשִׁ֗י דִּכָּ֣א לָ֭אָרֶץ חַיָּתִ֑י הוֹשִׁיבַ֥נִי בְ֝מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗ים כְּמֵתֵ֥י עוֹלָֽם׃
4 וַתִּתְעַטֵּ֣ף עָלַ֣י רוּחִ֑י בְּ֝תוֹכִ֗י יִשְׁתּוֹמֵ֥ם לִבִּֽי׃
5 זָ֘כַ֤רְתִּי יָמִ֨ים ׀ מִקֶּ֗דֶם הָגִ֥יתִי בְכָל־פָּעֳלֶ֑ךָ בְּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יָדֶ֣יךָ אֲשׂוֹחֵֽחַ׃
6 פֵּרַ֣שְׂתִּי יָדַ֣י אֵלֶ֑יךָ נַפְשִׁ֓י ׀ כְּאֶֽרֶץ־עֲיֵפָ֖ה לְךָ֣ סֶֽלָה׃
7 מַ֘הֵ֤ר עֲנֵ֨נִי ׀ יְהוָה֮ כָּלְתָ֪ה ר֫וּחִ֥י אַל־תַּסְתֵּ֣ר פָּנֶ֣יךָ מִמֶּ֑נִּי וְ֝נִמְשַׁ֗לְתִּי עִם־יֹ֥רְדֵי בֽוֹר׃
8 הַשְׁמִ֘יעֵ֤נִי בַבֹּ֨קֶר ׀ חַסְדֶּךָ֮ כִּֽי־בְךָ֪ בָ֫טָ֥חְתִּי הוֹדִיעֵ֗נִי דֶּֽרֶךְ־ז֥וּ אֵלֵ֑ךְ כִּֽי־אֵ֝לֶיךָ נָשָׂ֥אתִי נַפְשִֽׁי׃
9 הַצִּילֵ֖נִי מֵאֹיְבַ֥י ׀ יְהוָ֗ה אֵלֶ֥יךָ כִסִּֽתִי׃
10 לַמְּדֵ֤נִי ׀ לַֽעֲשׂ֣וֹת רְצוֹנֶךָ֮ כִּֽי־אַתָּ֪ה אֱל֫וֹהָ֥י רוּחֲךָ֥ טוֹבָ֑ה תַּ֝נְחֵ֗נִי בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִישֽׁוֹר׃
11 לְמַֽעַן־שִׁמְךָ֣ יְהוָ֣ה תְּחַיֵּ֑נִי בְּצִדְקָתְךָ֓ ׀ תוֹצִ֖יא מִצָּרָ֣ה נַפְשִֽׁי׃
12 וּֽבְחַסְדְּךָ֮ תַּצְמִ֪ית אֹ֫יְבָ֥י וְֽ֭הַאֲבַדְתָּ כָּל־צֹרֲרֵ֣י נַפְשִׁ֑י כִּ֝֗י אֲנִ֣י עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃
Psalm 143 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 142 there.
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1 Hear, O Lord, my prayer: give ear to my supplication in thy truth: hear me in thy justice.
2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight no man living shall be justified.
3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul: he hath brought down my life to the earth. He hath made me to dwell in darkness as those that have been dead of old:
4 And my spirit is in anguish within me: my heart within me is troubled.
5 I remembered the days of old, I meditated on all thy works: I meditated upon the works of thy hands.
6 I stretched forth my hands to thee: my soul is as earth without water unto thee.
7 Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit hath fainted away. Turn not away thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8 Cause me to hear thy mercy in the morning; for in thee have I hoped. Make the way known to me, wherein I should walk: for I have lifted up my soul to thee.
9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, to thee have I fled:
10 Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God. Thy good spirit shall lead me into the right land:
11 For thy name’s sake, O Lord, thou wilt quicken me in thy justice. Thou wilt bring my soul out of trouble:
12 And in thy mercy thou wilt destroy my enemies. And thou wilt cut off all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.
Psalm 143 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 142.
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1 Psalmus David, quando persequebatur eum Absalom filius ejus. Domine, exaudi orationem meam; auribus percipe obsecrationem meam in veritate tua; exaudi me in tua justitia.
2 Et non intres in judicium cum servo tuo, quia non justificabitur in conspectu tuo omnis vivens.
3 Quia persecutus est inimicus animam meam; humiliavit in terra vitam meam; collocavit me in obscuris, sicut mortuos sæculi.
4 Et anxiatus est super me spiritus meus; in me turbatum est cor meum.
5 Memor fui dierum antiquorum; meditatus sum in omnibus operibus tuis: in factis manuum tuarum meditabar.
6 Expandi manus meas ad te; anima mea sicut terra sine aqua tibi.
7 Velociter exaudi me, Domine; defecit spiritus meus. Non avertas faciem tuam a me, et similis ero descendentibus in lacum.
8 Auditam fac mihi mane misericordiam tuam, quia in te speravi. Notam fac mihi viam in qua ambulem, quia ad te levavi animam meam.
9 Eripe me de inimicis meis, Domine: ad te confugi.
10 Doce me facere voluntatem tuam, quia Deus meus es tu. Spiritus tuus bonus deducet me in terram rectam.
11 Propter nomen tuum, Domine, vivificabis me: in æquitate tua, educes de tribulatione animam meam,
12 et in misericordia tua disperdes inimicos meos, et perdes omnes qui tribulant animam meam, quoniam ego servus tuus sum.
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Psalm 143 at a glance
| Verses | 12 |
| Heading in the text | A Psalm by David. |
| Attributed to | The heading attributes it to David. |
| Type | Penitential and Lament |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 142 |
Read Psalm 143 when you are facing
guidanceenemiesmorningdeliverance
Psalm 143 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 143 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 143 belongs
Psalms of DavidThe seven penitential psalmsBook 5 of the Psalms
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Penitential psalms: Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130 and 143 are grouped as the seven penitential psalms source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source