Psalm 143

Words: The Scottish Psalter

Common Metre Tunes

A Psalm of David.

First Version (C.M.)  (Second version below)

 1  Lord, hear my pray'r, attend my suits;
       and in thy faithfulness
    Give thou an answer unto me,
       and in thy righteousness.

 2  Thy servant also bring thou not
       in judgment to be tried:
    Because no living man can be
       in thy sight justified.

 3  For th' en'my hath pursued my soul,
       my life to ground down tread:
    In darkness he hath made me dwell,
       as who have long been dead.

 4  My sp'rit is therefore overwhelmed
       in me perplexedly;
    Within me is my very heart
       amazed wondrously.

 5  I call to mind the days of old,
       to meditate I use
    On all thy works; upon the deeds
       I of thy hands do muse.

 6  My hands to thee I stretch; my soul
       thirsts, as dry land, for thee.
 7  Haste, Lord, to hear, my spirit fails:
       hide not thy face from me;

    Lest like to them I do become
       that go down to the dust.
 8  At morn let me thy kindness hear;
       for in thee do I trust.

    Teach me the way that I should walk:
       I lift my soul to thee.
 9  Lord, free me from my foes; I flee
       to thee to cover me.

10  Because thou art my God, to do
       thy will do me instruct:
    Thy Sp'rit is good, me to the land
       of uprightness conduct.

11  Revive and quicken me, O Lord,
       ev'n for thine own name's sake;
    And do thou, for thy righteousness,
       my soul from trouble take.

12  And of thy mercy slay my foes;
       let all destroyed be
    That do afflict my soul: for I
       a servant am to thee.

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 vexed,
       O'erwhelmed is me within;
    My heart right sore perplexed
       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 refreshed 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 loving-kindness 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 pleased 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.


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