143:1 David prays for favour in judgment; 143:3 He complains of his griefs; 143:5 He strengthens his faith by meditation and prayer; 143:7 He prays for grace; 143:9 for deliverance; 143:10 for sanctification; 143:12 for destruction of his enemies;
The LXX, Vulgate, Ethiopic, and Arabic state that this Psalm was composed by David on the rebellion of his son Absalom; and there are several passages in it which agree remarkably well with that period; for then he had most reason to fear lest God should deal with him according to his sins; which he deprecates with such a deep sense of his unworthiness, that it has hence been numbered among the penitential Psalms, of which it is the last.
Psa_143:1-12David's Type of PrayerReferences Prays to God for pardon Psa_143:1 Acknowledges the impossibility of being saved but by grace Psa_143:2 Deplores the lamentable effects of sin 143:3 Psa_143:4 Comforts himself with a retrospect of God's mercies of old Psa_143:5 Prays, in a variety of expressions, for remission of sin, sanctification, and redemption Psa_143:6-12Verse 1thy faithfulnessPsalm 31:1, 71:2; 2 Samuel 7:25; Daniel 9:16; 1 John 1:9ReciprocalNehemiah 13:22 - spare me; Psalm 27:7 - General; 30:10 - Hear; 36:10 - and thy; 54:5 - cut; 64:1 - Hear; 143:11 - for thy righteousness'; Luke 22:62 - and weptVerse 2enter notPsalm 130:3; Job 14:3in thy sightExodus 34:7; Job 4:17, 9:2, 9:3, 15:14, 25:4; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16; 1 John 1:10ReciprocalNumbers 11:11 - wherefore have; 1 Kings 8:46 - there is no man; 2 Chronicles 6:36 - for there is no man; Ezra 9:15 - we cannot; Nehemiah 13:22 - spare me; Job 9:20 - justify; 9:32 - we should; 10:2 - Do not; 22:4 - will he enter; 31:14 - What then; Psalm 4:1 - have mercy upon me; 27:7 - General; 36:10 - and thy; Isaiah 3:14 - enter; Jeremiah 49:19 - appoint me the time; Luke 15:21 - against; 18:14 - justified; Acts 13:39 - from which; Romans 2:13 - justified; 1 Corinthians 4:4 - yet; Galatians 3:11 - that; 3:22 - concluded; Philippians 3:9 - not; Titus 3:5 - by works; James 2:21 - justified; 1 John 1:8 - sayVerse 3the enemyPsalm 7:1, 7:2, 17:9-13, 35:4, 54:3, 142:6smitten7:5; 2 Samuel 2:22, 18:11made mePsalm 31:12, 31:13, 88:4-6; Ezekiel 37:11ReciprocalPsalm 13:2 - exalted; 25:19 - Consider; 31:15 - deliver; 40:2 - brought; 42:5 - Why art thou cast down; 88:3 - soul; 88:6 - darkness; 88:12 - dark; 89:39 - profaned; 102:4 - heart; 141:8 - leave not my soul destitute; Lamentations 3:6 - in darkVerse 4is my spiritPsalm 55:5, 61:2, 77:3, 102:1 *title 124:4, 142:3; Job 6:27my heartPsalm 25:16, 102:3, 102:4, 119:81-83; Luke 22:44ReciprocalEzra 9:3 - sat; Psalm 6:6 - I am; 13:2 - exalted; 38:10 - heart; 42:5 - Why art thou cast down; 57:6 - my soul; 88:3 - soul; 88:8 - put; 141:8 - leave not my soul destitute; Romans 8:26 - withVerse 5rememberPsalm 42:6, 77:5, 77:6, 77:10-12, 111:4; Deuteronomy 8:2, 8:3; 1 Samuel 17:34-37, 17:45-50; Isaiah 63:7-14; Micah 6:5ReciprocalGenesis 24:63 - to meditate; Nehemiah 4:14 - remember; Psalm 77:3 - spirit; 77:12 - meditate; 111:2 - sought; 119:52 - remembered; Isaiah 26:8 - desire; 63:11 - he remembered; Amos 9:11 - as in; Jonah 2:7 - I remembered; Micah 7:14 - as; 1 Timothy 4:15 - MeditateVerse 6stretch forthPsalm 44:20, 88:9; Job 11:13my soulPsalm 42:1, 42:2, 63:1, 84:2; Isaiah 26:8, 26:9, 35:7; John 7:37ReciprocalGenesis 24:63 - to meditate; Exodus 9:29 - spread; Deuteronomy 4:4 - General; 1 Samuel 1:15 - poured; 1 Chronicles 11:17 - longed; 2 Chronicles 6:12 - spread forth; Ezra 9:5 - spread; Job 7:2 - earnestly desireth; Psalm 28:2 - when; 63:8 - followeth; 68:31 - stretch; 73:25 - none upon; 116:4 - O Lord; Isaiah 37:14 - and Hezekiah went; 55:1 - every; Lamentations 3:41 - lift; Habakkuk 3:9 - Selah; Luke 6:21 - ye that hunger; 22:44 - being; Revelation 7:16 - hungerVerse 7Hear mePsalm 13:1-4, 40:13, 40:17, 70:5, 71:12my spirit40:12, 69:3; Isaiah 57:16; Luke 21:26hide notPsalm 22:24, 27:9, 69:17; Isaiah 8:17lest I be likeetc. or, for I am become like, etcunto themPsalm 28:1, 88:4-6, 88:10, 88:11; Isaiah 38:18ReciprocalGenesis 4:14 - from thy; Numbers 16:33 - into the; 2 Chronicles 9:4 - there was; Job 6:4 - drinketh up; 17:16 - the bars of the pit; 34:29 - when he hideth; Psalm 30:7 - thou; 30:10 - Hear; 31:2 - deliver; 42:1 - so panteth; 54:2 - General; 55:1 - hide; 63:8 - followeth; 70:1 - O God; 101:2 - O when; 102:1 - Hear; 102:2 - Hide; 119:123 - General; 141:1 - make haste; 142:6 - for I am; Proverbs 1:12 - whole; 13:12 - Hope; Isaiah 38:14 - I am; Lamentations 3:6 - in dark; Jonah 2:6 - corruption; Luke 18:8 - he will; 22:44 - beingVerse 8to hearPsalm 30:5, 42:8, 46:5 *marg. 59:16; Genesis 32:24-29; Hosea 6:3cause mePsalm 143:10, 5:8, 25:4, 25:5, 27:11, 32:8, 119:34, 119:73; Proverbs 3:5, 3:6; Isaiah 30:21, 48:17for I liftPsalm 25:1, 86:4; Lamentations 3:41ReciprocalExodus 18:20 - the way; 2 Samuel 2:1 - inquired; 1 Kings 8:36 - thou teach; Ezra 8:21 - to seek; Nehemiah 9:12 - in the way; Job 22:26 - lift up; 34:32 - which; Psalm 23:3 - leadeth; 24:4 - lifted; 40:17 - make; 73:24 - Thou; 86:11 - Teach; 101:2 - O when; 119:10 - O let me; 119:26 - teach; 139:24 - and lead; Proverbs 2:9 - General; 14:8 - wisdom; Isaiah 33:2 - be thou; Jeremiah 42:3 - General; Matthew 1:20 - while; Acts 22:10 - What; Galatians 5:18 - if; 2 Timothy 2:7 - andVerse 9flee unto theeHeb. hide me with thee, Psalm 34:2-4, 56:9, 61:3, 61:4, 142:5; Proverbs 18:10; Habakkuk 3:1ReciprocalPsalm 32:7 - my; 64:2 - Hide; 69:17 - hide; 119:86 - help; 139:10 - General; Isaiah 26:20 - hide; 32:2 - an hiding; 2 Timothy 2:7 - andVerse 10TeachPsalm 25:4, 25:5, 25:8, 25:9, 25:12, 119:5-7, 119:12, 119:35, 139:24; Micah 4:2; Matthew 28:20; Colossians 1:9, 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 4:2; Habakkuk 3:1; 1 John 2:27for thou artPsalm 22:1, 31:14, 63:1, 118:28, 140:6thy spiritNehemiah 9:20; Isaiah 63:14; John 14:26, 16:13-15; Romans 5:5, 8:2, 8:14-16, 8:26; 15:13, 15:30; Galatians 5:22, 5:23; Ephesians 4:30, 5:9; 2 Timothy 1:7the landIsaiah 29:10ReciprocalExodus 4:12 - General; Numbers 9:22 - abode; Psalm 31:3 - lead; 43:3 - lead; 119:7 - when; 119:124 - teach; 139:10 - General; 143:8 - cause me; Isaiah 26:10 - in the; John 9:31 - and doeth; 1 Corinthians 12:8 - is given; 1 Thessalonians 4:3 - this; Habakkuk 3:1 - the Spirit; 1 Peter 4:2 - the will; 1 John 2:17 - butVerse 11QuickenPsalm 85:6, 119:25, 119:37, 119:40, 119:88, 119:107, 138:7; Habakkuk 3:2; Ephesians 2:4, 2:5for thy righteousness'Psalm 143:1, 9:7, 9:8, 31:1, 71:2bring25:17, 34:19, 37:39, 37:40, 91:15, 91:16; Revelation 7:14-17ReciprocalJob 3:26 - yet trouble came; Psalm 25:11 - thy; 31:3 - lead; 106:8 - he saved; 109:21 - But do; 142:7 - my soul; Isaiah 48:9 - my name's; Micah 6:5 - knowVerse 12of thy mercyPsalm 54:5, 55:23, 136:15-20; 1 Samuel 24:12-15, 25:29, 26:10for I am thyPsalm 116:16, 119:94ReciprocalJudges 16:28 - that I may; Psalm 31:1 - deliver; 31:15 - deliver; 36:1 - servant; 55:19 - hear; 56:1 - Be; 59:1 - Deliver; 86:2 - save; 109:21 - But do; Isaiah 14:1 - the Lord; Acts 27:23 - and; Romans 6:22 - become
143:3 He complains of his griefs;
143:5 He strengthens his faith by meditation and prayer;
143:7 He prays for grace;
143:9 for deliverance;
143:10 for sanctification;
143:12 for destruction of his enemies;
The LXX, Vulgate, Ethiopic, and Arabic state that this Psalm was composed by David on the rebellion of his son Absalom; and there are several passages in it which agree remarkably well with that period; for then he had most reason to fear lest God should deal with him according to his sins; which he deprecates with such a deep sense of his unworthiness, that it has hence been numbered among the penitential Psalms, of which it is the last.
Psa_143:1-12 David's Type of PrayerReferences Prays to God for pardon
Psa_143:1 Acknowledges the impossibility of being saved but by grace
Psa_143:2 Deplores the lamentable effects of sin
143:3
Psa_143:4 Comforts himself with a retrospect of God's mercies of old
Psa_143:5 Prays, in a variety of expressions, for remission of sin, sanctification, and redemption
Psa_143:6-12 Verse 1thy faithfulnessPsalm 31:1, 71:2; 2 Samuel 7:25; Daniel 9:16; 1 John 1:9ReciprocalNehemiah 13:22 - spare me; Psalm 27:7 - General; 30:10 - Hear; 36:10 - and thy; 54:5 - cut; 64:1 - Hear; 143:11 - for thy righteousness'; Luke 22:62 - and wept Verse 2enter notPsalm 130:3; Job 14:3 in thy sightExodus 34:7; Job 4:17, 9:2, 9:3, 15:14, 25:4; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16; 1 John 1:10ReciprocalNumbers 11:11 - wherefore have; 1 Kings 8:46 - there is no man; 2 Chronicles 6:36 - for there is no man; Ezra 9:15 - we cannot; Nehemiah 13:22 - spare me; Job 9:20 - justify; 9:32 - we should; 10:2 - Do not; 22:4 - will he enter; 31:14 - What then; Psalm 4:1 - have mercy upon me; 27:7 - General; 36:10 - and thy; Isaiah 3:14 - enter; Jeremiah 49:19 - appoint me the time; Luke 15:21 - against; 18:14 - justified; Acts 13:39 - from which; Romans 2:13 - justified; 1 Corinthians 4:4 - yet; Galatians 3:11 - that; 3:22 - concluded; Philippians 3:9 - not; Titus 3:5 - by works; James 2:21 - justified; 1 John 1:8 - say Verse 3the enemyPsalm 7:1, 7:2, 17:9-13, 35:4, 54:3, 142:6 smitten7:5; 2 Samuel 2:22, 18:11 made mePsalm 31:12, 31:13, 88:4-6; Ezekiel 37:11ReciprocalPsalm 13:2 - exalted; 25:19 - Consider; 31:15 - deliver; 40:2 - brought; 42:5 - Why art thou cast down; 88:3 - soul; 88:6 - darkness; 88:12 - dark; 89:39 - profaned; 102:4 - heart; 141:8 - leave not my soul destitute; Lamentations 3:6 - in dark Verse 4is my spiritPsalm 55:5, 61:2, 77:3, 102:1 *title 124:4, 142:3; Job 6:27 my heartPsalm 25:16, 102:3, 102:4, 119:81-83; Luke 22:44ReciprocalEzra 9:3 - sat; Psalm 6:6 - I am; 13:2 - exalted; 38:10 - heart; 42:5 - Why art thou cast down; 57:6 - my soul; 88:3 - soul; 88:8 - put; 141:8 - leave not my soul destitute; Romans 8:26 - with Verse 5rememberPsalm 42:6, 77:5, 77:6, 77:10-12, 111:4; Deuteronomy 8:2, 8:3; 1 Samuel 17:34-37, 17:45-50; Isaiah 63:7-14; Micah 6:5ReciprocalGenesis 24:63 - to meditate; Nehemiah 4:14 - remember; Psalm 77:3 - spirit; 77:12 - meditate; 111:2 - sought; 119:52 - remembered; Isaiah 26:8 - desire; 63:11 - he remembered; Amos 9:11 - as in; Jonah 2:7 - I remembered; Micah 7:14 - as; 1 Timothy 4:15 - Meditate Verse 6stretch forthPsalm 44:20, 88:9; Job 11:13 my soulPsalm 42:1, 42:2, 63:1, 84:2; Isaiah 26:8, 26:9, 35:7; John 7:37ReciprocalGenesis 24:63 - to meditate; Exodus 9:29 - spread; Deuteronomy 4:4 - General; 1 Samuel 1:15 - poured; 1 Chronicles 11:17 - longed; 2 Chronicles 6:12 - spread forth; Ezra 9:5 - spread; Job 7:2 - earnestly desireth; Psalm 28:2 - when; 63:8 - followeth; 68:31 - stretch; 73:25 - none upon; 116:4 - O Lord; Isaiah 37:14 - and Hezekiah went; 55:1 - every; Lamentations 3:41 - lift; Habakkuk 3:9 - Selah; Luke 6:21 - ye that hunger; 22:44 - being; Revelation 7:16 - hunger Verse 7Hear mePsalm 13:1-4, 40:13, 40:17, 70:5, 71:12 my spirit40:12, 69:3; Isaiah 57:16; Luke 21:26 hide notPsalm 22:24, 27:9, 69:17; Isaiah 8:17 lest I be likeetc. or, for I am become like, etcunto themPsalm 28:1, 88:4-6, 88:10, 88:11; Isaiah 38:18ReciprocalGenesis 4:14 - from thy; Numbers 16:33 - into the; 2 Chronicles 9:4 - there was; Job 6:4 - drinketh up; 17:16 - the bars of the pit; 34:29 - when he hideth; Psalm 30:7 - thou; 30:10 - Hear; 31:2 - deliver; 42:1 - so panteth; 54:2 - General; 55:1 - hide; 63:8 - followeth; 70:1 - O God; 101:2 - O when; 102:1 - Hear; 102:2 - Hide; 119:123 - General; 141:1 - make haste; 142:6 - for I am; Proverbs 1:12 - whole; 13:12 - Hope; Isaiah 38:14 - I am; Lamentations 3:6 - in dark; Jonah 2:6 - corruption; Luke 18:8 - he will; 22:44 - being Verse 8to hearPsalm 30:5, 42:8, 46:5 *marg. 59:16; Genesis 32:24-29; Hosea 6:3 cause mePsalm 143:10, 5:8, 25:4, 25:5, 27:11, 32:8, 119:34, 119:73; Proverbs 3:5, 3:6; Isaiah 30:21, 48:17 for I liftPsalm 25:1, 86:4; Lamentations 3:41ReciprocalExodus 18:20 - the way; 2 Samuel 2:1 - inquired; 1 Kings 8:36 - thou teach; Ezra 8:21 - to seek; Nehemiah 9:12 - in the way; Job 22:26 - lift up; 34:32 - which; Psalm 23:3 - leadeth; 24:4 - lifted; 40:17 - make; 73:24 - Thou; 86:11 - Teach; 101:2 - O when; 119:10 - O let me; 119:26 - teach; 139:24 - and lead; Proverbs 2:9 - General; 14:8 - wisdom; Isaiah 33:2 - be thou; Jeremiah 42:3 - General; Matthew 1:20 - while; Acts 22:10 - What; Galatians 5:18 - if; 2 Timothy 2:7 - and Verse 9flee unto theeHeb. hide me with thee, Psalm 34:2-4, 56:9, 61:3, 61:4, 142:5; Proverbs 18:10; Habakkuk 3:1ReciprocalPsalm 32:7 - my; 64:2 - Hide; 69:17 - hide; 119:86 - help; 139:10 - General; Isaiah 26:20 - hide; 32:2 - an hiding; 2 Timothy 2:7 - and Verse 10TeachPsalm 25:4, 25:5, 25:8, 25:9, 25:12, 119:5-7, 119:12, 119:35, 139:24; Micah 4:2; Matthew 28:20; Colossians 1:9, 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 4:2; Habakkuk 3:1; 1 John 2:27 for thou artPsalm 22:1, 31:14, 63:1, 118:28, 140:6 thy spiritNehemiah 9:20; Isaiah 63:14; John 14:26, 16:13-15; Romans 5:5, 8:2, 8:14-16, 8:26; 15:13, 15:30; Galatians 5:22, 5:23; Ephesians 4:30, 5:9; 2 Timothy 1:7 the landIsaiah 29:10ReciprocalExodus 4:12 - General; Numbers 9:22 - abode; Psalm 31:3 - lead; 43:3 - lead; 119:7 - when; 119:124 - teach; 139:10 - General; 143:8 - cause me; Isaiah 26:10 - in the; John 9:31 - and doeth; 1 Corinthians 12:8 - is given; 1 Thessalonians 4:3 - this; Habakkuk 3:1 - the Spirit; 1 Peter 4:2 - the will; 1 John 2:17 - but Verse 11QuickenPsalm 85:6, 119:25, 119:37, 119:40, 119:88, 119:107, 138:7; Habakkuk 3:2; Ephesians 2:4, 2:5 for thy righteousness'Psalm 143:1, 9:7, 9:8, 31:1, 71:2 bring25:17, 34:19, 37:39, 37:40, 91:15, 91:16; Revelation 7:14-17ReciprocalJob 3:26 - yet trouble came; Psalm 25:11 - thy; 31:3 - lead; 106:8 - he saved; 109:21 - But do; 142:7 - my soul; Isaiah 48:9 - my name's; Micah 6:5 - know Verse 12of thy mercyPsalm 54:5, 55:23, 136:15-20; 1 Samuel 24:12-15, 25:29, 26:10 for I am thyPsalm 116:16, 119:94ReciprocalJudges 16:28 - that I may; Psalm 31:1 - deliver; 31:15 - deliver; 36:1 - servant; 55:19 - hear; 56:1 - Be; 59:1 - Deliver; 86:2 - save; 109:21 - But do; Isaiah 14:1 - the Lord; Acts 27:23 - and; Romans 6:22 - become