143:10 Teach me to do what pleases you, 1
for you are my God.
May your kind presence 2
lead me 3 into a level land. 4
149:9 and execute the judgment to which their enemies 5 have been sentenced. 6
All his loyal followers will be vindicated. 7
Praise the Lord!
1 tn Or “your will.” See Ps 40:8.
2 tn Heb “your good spirit.” God’s “spirit” may refer here to his presence (see the note on the word “presence” in Ps 139:7) or to his personal Spirit (see Ps 51:10).
3 tn The prefixed verbal form is taken as a jussive. Taking the statement as a prayer fits well with the petitionary tone of vv. 7-10a.
4 sn A level land (where one can walk free of obstacles) here symbolizes divine blessing and protection. See Pss 26:12 and 27:11 for similar imagery.
5 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the enemies of the people of God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
6 tn Heb “to do against them judgment [that] is written.”
7 tn Heb “it is honor for all his godly ones.” The judgment of the oppressive kings will bring vindication and honor to God’s people (see vv. 4-5).