Psalm 143–145

A David Psalm

^1–2143Listen to this prayer of mine, God;

pay attention to what I’m asking.

Answer me—you’re famous for your answers!

Do what’s right for me.

But don’t, please don’t, haul me into court;

not a person alive would be acquitted there.

^3–6The enemy hunted me down;

he kicked me and stomped me within an inch of my life.

He put me in a black hole,

buried me like a corpse in that dungeon.

I sat there in despair, my spirit draining away,

my heart heavy, like lead.

I remembered the old days,

went over all you’ve done, pondered the ways you’ve worked,

Stretched out my hands to you,

as thirsty for you as a desert thirsty for rain.

^7–10Hurry with your answer, God!

I’m nearly at the end of my rope.

Don’t turn away; don’t ignore me!

That would be certain death.

If you wake me each morning with the sound of your loving voice,

I’ll go to sleep each night trusting in you.

Point out the road I must travel;

I’m all ears, all eyes before you.

Save me from my enemies, God—

you’re my only hope!

Teach me how to live to please you,

because you’re my God.

Lead me by your blessed Spirit

into cleared and level pastureland.

^11–12Keep up your reputation, God—give me life!

In your justice, get me out of this trouble!

In your great love, vanquish my enemies;

make a clean sweep of those who harass me.

And why? Because I’m your servant.

A David Psalm

^1–2144Blessed be God, my mountain,

who trains me to fight fair and well.

He’s the bedrock on which I stand,

the castle in which I live,

my rescuing knight,

The high crag where I run for dear life,

while he lays my enemies low.

^3–4I wonder why you care, God—

why do you bother with us at all?

All we are is a puff of air;

we’re like shadows in a campfire.

^5–8Step down out of heaven, God;

ignite volcanoes in the hearts of the mountains.

Hurl your lightnings in every direction;

shoot your arrows this way and that.

Reach all the way from sky to sea:

pull me out of the ocean of hate,

out of the grip of those barbarians

Who lie through their teeth,

who shake your hand

then knife you in the back.

^9–10O God, let me sing a new song to you,

let me play it on a twelve-string guitar—

A song to the God who saved the king,

the God who rescued David, his servant.

¹¹Rescue me from the enemy sword,

release me from the grip of those barbarians

Who lie through their teeth,

who shake your hand

then knife you in the back.

^12–14Make our sons in their prime

like sturdy oak trees,

Our daughters as shapely and bright

as fields of wildflowers.

Fill our barns with great harvest,

fill our fields with huge flocks;

Protect us from invasion and exile—

eliminate the crime in our streets.

¹⁵How blessed the people who have all this!

How blessed the people who have God for God!

David’s Praise

¹145I lift you high in praise, my God, O my King!

and I’ll bless your name into eternity.

²I’ll bless you every day,

and keep it up from now to eternity.

³God is magnificent; he can never be praised enough.

There are no boundaries to his greatness.

⁴Generation after generation stands in awe of your work;

each one tells stories of your mighty acts.

⁵Your beauty and splendor have everyone talking;

I compose songs on your wonders.

⁶Your marvelous doings are headline news;

I could write a book full of the details of your greatness.

⁷The fame of your goodness spreads across the country;

your righteousness is on everyone’s lips.

⁸God is all mercy and grace—

not quick to anger, is rich in love.

⁹God is good to one and all;

everything he does is suffused with grace.

^10–11Creation and creatures applaud you, God;

your holy people bless you.

They talk about the glories of your rule,

they exclaim over your splendor,

¹²Letting the world know of your power for good,

the lavish splendor of your kingdom.

¹³Your kingdom is a kingdom eternal;

you never get voted out of office.

God always does what he says,

and is gracious in everything he does.

¹⁴God gives a hand to those down on their luck,

gives a fresh start to those ready to quit.

¹⁵All eyes are on you, expectant;

you give them their meals on time.

¹⁶Generous to a fault,

you lavish your favor on all creatures.

¹⁷Everything God does is right—

the trademark on all his works is love.

¹⁸God’s there, listening for all who pray,

for all who pray and mean it.

¹⁹He does what’s best for those who fear him—

hears them call out, and saves them.

²⁰God sticks by all who love him,

but it’s all over for those who don’t.

²¹My mouth is filled with God’s praise.

Let everything living bless him,

bless his holy name from now to eternity!