Psalm 143

Abraham Coles

2 Not at Thy judgment-bar
Do Thou Thy servant try;
For no man living righteous is
Before Thy searching eye.

3 The foe has vexed my soul,
And has my life brought low;
Has made me dwell in darkness, like
The dead of long ago.

4 Therefore my spirit faints,
My heart is desolate;
5 I recollect the days of old,
Thy doings meditate.

I muse upon Thy works,
6 I stretch toward Thee my hand;
My soul for Thee is thirsty, like
A dry and weary land.

7 Send speedy answer, Lord,
My spirit fails for it;
Hide not Thy Face, lest, dying, I
Go down into the pit.

8 Me in the morning make
Thy loving-kindness know;
Cause me to understand the way
Wherein I ought to go.

9 Lord, free me from my foes:
I hide myself with Thee —
10 Teach me to do Thy will, my God,
Thy Spirit guiding me.

11 For Thy Name's sake, O Lord!
Me quicken and relieve;
12 My foes destroy, the foes of right.
Who vex my soul and grieve.