Psalm 143

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Settings by composers

• Thomas Attwood (in English, v 2)
• William Billings (in English, text by Watts)
• William Byrd (vv. 1-2, in Latin]
• Richard Garbett (in English, metrical New Version, vv. 1, 2, 6 and 7)
• John Goss (in English, v 2)
• Ferdinand di Lasso (in Latin, v 8, SSATTB)
• Orlando di Lasso (in Latin, v. 9-10, TTB)
• Orlando di Lasso (in Latin, v. 9-10, SATB)
• John Mundy (in English, vv 1-2)
• Orazio Vecchi (in Latin, v.7 only, SATB)

Texts & translations

Latin text

1  psalmus David quando filius eum persequebatur Domine exaudi orationem meam auribus percipe obsecrationem meam in veritate tua exaudi me in tua iustitia

2  et non intres in iudicio cum servo tuo quia non iustificabitur in conspectu tuo omnis vivens

3  quia persecutus est inimicus animam meam humiliavit in terra vitam meam conlocavit me in obscuris sicut mortuos saeculi

4  et anxiatus est super me spiritus meus in me turbatum est cor meum

5  memor fui dierum antiquorum meditatus sum in omnibus operibus tuis in factis manuum tuarum meditabar

6  expandi manus meas ad te anima mea sicut terra sine aqua tibi diapsalma

7  velociter exaudi me Domine defecit spiritus meus non avertas faciem tuam a me et similis ero descendentibus in lacum

8  auditam mihi fac mane misericordiam tuam quia in te speravi notam fac mihi viam in qua ambulem quia ad te levavi animam meam

9  eripe me de inimicis meis Domine ad te confugi

10  doce me facere voluntatem tuam quia Deus meus es tu spiritus tuus bonus deducet me in terra recta

11  propter nomen tuum Domine vivificabis me in aequitate tua educes de tribulatione animam meam

12  et in misericordia tua disperdes inimicos meos et perdes omnes qui tribulant animam meam quoniam ego servus tuus sum

Church of England 1662 Book of Common Prayer

English text

1  Hear my prayer, O Lord, and consider my desire : hearken unto me for thy truth and righteousness' sake.

2  And enter not into judgement with thy servant : for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

3  For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground : he hath laid me in the darkness, as the men that have been long dead.

4  Therefore is my spirit vexed within me : and my heart within me is desolate.

5  Yet do I remember the time past; I muse upon all thy works : yea, I exercise myself in the works of thy hands.

6  I stretch forth my hands unto thee : my soul gaspeth unto thee as a thirsty land.

7  Hear me, O Lord, and that soon, for my spirit waxeth faint : hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

8  O let me hear thy loving-kindness betimes in the morning, for in thee is my trust : shew thou me the way that I should walk in, for I lift up my soul unto thee.

9  Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies : for I flee unto thee to hide me.

10  Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth thee, for thou art my God : let thy loving Spirit lead me forth into the land of righteousness.

11  Quicken me, O Lord, for thy Name's sake : and for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.

12  And of thy goodness slay mine enemies : and destroy all them that vex my soul ; for I am thy servant.

English metrical New Version (Tate/Brady)

English text

Lord, hear my pray'r, and to my cry
Thy wonted audience lend;
In thy accustom'd faith and truth
A gracious answer send.

Nor at thy strict tribunal bring
Thy servant to be tried;
For in thy sight no living man
Can e'er be justified.

The spiteful foe pursues my life,
Whose comforts all are fled;
He drives me into caves as dark
As mansions of the dead.

My spirit therefore is o'erwhelm'd,
And sinks within my breast;
My mournful heart grows desolate,
With heavy woes opprest.

I call to mind the days of old,
And wonders thou hast wrought:
My former dangers and escapes
Employ my musing thought.

To thee my hands in humble pray'r
I fervently stretch out;
My soul for thy refreshment thirsts,
Like land oppress'd with drought.

Hear me with speed; my spirit fails;
Thy face no longer hide,
Lest I become forlorn, like them
That in the grave reside.

Thy kindness early let me hear,
Whose trust on thee depends;
Teach me the way where I should go;
My soul to thee ascends.

Do thou, O Lord, from all my foes
Preserve and set me free;
A safe retreat against their rage
My soul implores from thee.

Thou art my God, thy righteous will
Instruct me to obey;
Let thy good Spirit lead and keep
My soul in thy right way.

O! for the sake of thy great Name,
Revive my drooping heart;
For thy truth's sake, to me, distress'd,
Thy promis'd aid impart.

In pity to my suff'rings, Lord,
Reduce my foes to shame;
Slay them that persecute a soul
Devoted to thy Name.

Isaac Watts The Psalms of David imitated in the language of the New Testament

English text

1. My righteous Judge, my gracious God, Hear when I spread my hands abroad, And cry for succor from thy throne; O make thy truth and mercy known! 2. Let judgment not against me pass; Behold, thy servant pleads thy grace: Should justice call us to thy bar, No man alive is guiltless there. 3. Look down in pity, Lord, and see The mighty woes that burden me; Down to the dust my life is brought, Like one long buried and forgot. 4. I dwell in darkness and unseen, My heart is desolate within; My thoughts in musing silence trace The ancient wonders of thy grace.

5. Thence I derive a glimpse of hope To bear my sinking spirits up; I stretch my hands to God again, And thirst like parched lands for rain 6. For thee I thirst, I pray, I mourn: When will thy smiling face return? Shall all my joys on earth remove? And God for ever hide his love? 7. My God, thy long delay to save Will sink thy pris'ner to the grave; My heart grows faint, and dim mine eye; Make haste to help before I die. 8. The night is witness to my tears, Distressing pains, distressing fears; O might I hear thy morning voice, How would my wearied powers rejoice!

9. In thee I trust, to thee I sigh, And lift my weary soul on high; For thee sit waiting all the day, And wear the tiresome hours away. 10. Break off my fetters, Lord, and show Which is the path my feet should go; If snares and foes beset the road, I flee to hide me near my God. 11. Teach me to do thy holy will, And lead me to thy heav'nly hill; Let the good Spirit of thy love Conduct me to thy courts above. 12. Then shall my soul no more complain, The tempter then shall rage in vain; And flesh, that was my foe before, Shall never vex my spirit more.