Bible Commentaries
Psalms 143

Verse 1

Title. A Psalm of David. Same as 140.

LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 2

enter not. As in Job 9:32 ; Job 22:4 .

in Thy sight. Compare 1 Samuel 16:7 . Isaiah 55:8 . Job 14:3 .

no man = no one. Compare Job 15:14 , Job 15:15 .

be justified = stand or appear [before Thee] just. The verb is Active. Septuagint, Authorized Version, and Revised Version render it passive. Compare Romans 3:20 . Galatians 1:2 , Galatians 1:16 .

Verse 3

persecuted = pursued.

my soul = me (emphatic). Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 4

my spirit = me. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 . Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6 , put for the whole person, for emphasis.

overwhelmed. Same word as Psalms 77:3 ; Psalms 107:5 ; Psalms 142:3 .

Verse 5

remember. Compare Psalms 77:5 , Psalms 77:10 , Psalms 77:11 .

muse = talk with myself. t

he work of Thy hands. Some codices, with three early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "works" (plural)

Verse 6

as. Some codices, with seven early printed editions, read "in".

Selah. Connecting and returning to prayer (7-11) as the consequence of the reflection (5, 6). This is the last Selah (of seventy-one) in the Psalms. For three others, see- Habakkuk 3:3 , Habakkuk 3:9 , Habakkuk 3:13 . See App-66 .

Verse 7

the pit = a grave. Hebrew. bor. A sepulchre, as hewn out of the rock. Hence rendered cistern, or dry pit. Compare Genesis 37:20 . See note on Genesis 21:19 .

Verse 8

lovingkindness: or grace.

trust = confide. Hebrew. batah. App-69 .

Verse 9

Deliver me = pluck me [out of the hands of].

flee. Authorized Version, 1611, reads "fly". Since 1629 the reading is "flee".

unto. Some codices, with one early printed edition and Septuagint, read "in". Compare Psalms 143:8 .

Verse 10

will = good pleasure.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

lead, &c. = It will lead.

land. Some codices, with one early printed edition, read "way"; others, with Syriac, read "path". Compare Psalms 27:11 .

Verse 11

Quicken me = Give, or preserve me in life. See note || on p. 827.

name's. See note on Psalms 20:1 .

Verse 12

mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.

enemies. Compare Structure, Psalms 143:3 .