Psalm of the Day                                                         Bread of Life                                                                    Psalm 143

Psalm 143

₁Hear my prayer, O Lord;

         give ear to my pleas for | mercy!*

         In your faithfulness answer me, in your | righteousness!

₂Enter not into judgment with your | servant,*

         for no one living is righteous be- | fore you.

₃For the enemy has pursued my soul;

         he has crushed my life | to the ground;*

         he has made me sit in darkness like | those long dead.

₄Therefore my spirit faints with- | in me;*

         my heart within me | is appalled.

₅I remember the days of old;

         I meditate on all that | you have done;*

         I ponder the work | of your hands.

₆I stretch out my | hands to you;*

         my soul thirsts for you like a | parched land.

₇Answer me quickly, O Lord!

         My | spirit fails!*

Hide not your face from me,

         lest I be like those who go down | to the pit.

₈Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,

         for in | you I trust.*

Make me know the way I should go,

         for to you I lift | up my soul.

₉Deliver me from my enemies, | O Lord!*

         I have fled to you for | refuge!

₁₀Teach me to do your will,

         for you | are my God!*

Let your good Spirit lead me

         on | level ground!

₁₁For your name's sake, O Lord, pre- | serve my life!*

         In your righteousness bring my soul out of | trouble!

₁₂And in your steadfast love you will cut off my | enemies,*

         and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,

         for I am your | servant.