Psalms 143:10-12

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 

143:11 O Lord, for the sake of your reputation, ⁵  revive me! ⁶ 

Because of your justice, rescue me from trouble! ⁷ 

143:12 As a demonstration of your loyal love, ⁸  destroy my enemies!

Annihilate ⁹  all who threaten my life, ¹⁰ 

for I am your servant.

[143:10]  ¹ tn Or “your will.” See Ps 40:8.

[143:10]  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).

[143:10]  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.

[143:10]  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.

[143:11]  ⁵ tn Heb “name,” which here stands metonymically for God’s reputation.

[143:11]  ⁶ tn The imperfect verbal forms in vv. 11-12a are understood as expressing the psalmist’s desire. Note the petitionary tone of vv. 7-10a.

[143:11]  ⁷ tn Heb “by your justice bring out my life from trouble.”

[143:12]  ⁸ tn Heb “in [or “by”] your faithfulness.”

[143:12]  ⁹ tn The perfect with vav (ו) consecutive carries on the mood of the preceding imperfect.

[143:12]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “all the enemies of my life.”