A Prayer for Rescue from Enemies

143 A psalm of David.a

1 O Yahweh, hear my prayer;

listen to my supplications.

In your faithfulness answer me,

and in your righteousness.

2 And do not enter into judgment with your servant,

because no one alive is righteous before you.

3 For the enemy has pursued my soul;

he has crushed my life to the ground.

He has made me dwell in dark places

like those long dead.

4 And so my spirit grows faint within me;

my heart ⌊within⌋b me is desolate.

5 I remember the days of long ago;

I meditate on all your doings.c

I muse on the labor of your hands.

6 I stretch out my hands to you;

my soul longs for you like a dry land. Selah

7 Quickly answer me, O Yahweh;

my spirit fails.

Do not hide your face from me,

or I will become

like those descending to the pit.

8 Cause me to hear your loyal love in the morning,

for I trust you.

Cause me to know the way that I should go,

for I lift up my soul to you.

9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Yahweh.

I take refuge in you.d

10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God;

your Spirit is good.

Lead me onto level ground.

11 For your name’s sake, O Yahweh, preserve my life;

in your righteousness bring mee out of trouble.

12 And in your loyal love destroy my enemies,

and exterminate all the adversaries of my soul,

for I am your servant.