Psalms 143:1

Translation
King James Version
¶ A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
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KJV (with Strong's)
A Psalm H4210 of David H1732. Hear H8085 my prayer H8605, O LORD H3068, give ear H238 to my supplications H8469: in thy faithfulness H530 answer H6030 me, and in thy righteousness H6666.
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Complete Jewish Bible
A psalm of David: ADONAI, hear my prayer; listen to my pleas for mercy. In your faithfulness, answer me, and in your righteousness.
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Berean Standard Bible
O LORD, hear my prayer. In Your faithfulness, give ear to my plea; in Your righteousness, answer me.
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American Standard Version
Hear my prayer, O Jehovah; give ear to my supplications: In thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
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World English Bible Messianic
Hear my prayer, LORD. Listen to my petitions. In your faithfulness and righteousness, relieve me.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
A Psalme of David. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and hearken vnto my supplication: answere me in thy trueth and in thy righteousnes.
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Young's Literal Translation
A Psalm of David. O Jehovah, hear my prayer, Give ear unto my supplications, In Thy faithfulness answer me--in Thy righteousness.
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See also
Psalms 71:2Psalms 31:1Psalms 140:6Daniel 9:161 John 1:9Psalms 89:1Psalms 89:2
In the KJVVerse 16,295 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Psalm 143:1 introduces a poignant lament by King David, an urgent and heartfelt cry for divine intervention in a time of profound distress. Rather than appealing to his own merit or accomplishments, David grounds his petition entirely in the immutable character of God—His unwavering faithfulness and perfect righteousness. This foundational verse sets the spiritual and emotional tone for the entire psalm, establishing a paradigm of prayer rooted in absolute dependence on God's nature as the sole basis for hope, vindication, and deliverance amidst overwhelming need.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Psalm 143 stands as the final entry among the seven traditional Penitential Psalms (Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143), a collection distinguished by their profound expressions of sorrow over sin, earnest confession, and fervent pleas for divine mercy and forgiveness. Positioned within Book V of the Psalter (Psalms 107-150), which often explores themes of Israel's exile, restoration, and ultimate hope in God, Psalm 143 shifts the focus to the individual's desperate cry for God's attention. The opening verse immediately establishes the psalm's genre as a lament, with David directly addressing God with urgent imperatives to "hear" and "give ear." This initial plea sets the stage for the subsequent verses, which detail David's deep distress, his confession of human frailty and sin, and his renewed, desperate appeals for guidance, deliverance from enemies, and vindication, culminating in an affirmation of trust in God's unfailing character. The movement from intense supplication to a confession of weakness, then to a renewed plea for guidance and vindication, and finally to a declaration of trust, is characteristic of the lament genre.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: While the specific historical backdrop for Psalm 143 remains unstated, its attribution to David allows it to resonate universally with those experiencing profound distress. Many of David's psalms are born from periods of intense personal and national crisis, such as his harrowing flight from King Saul, as chronicled in 1 Samuel 19, or the painful betrayal and rebellion led by his own son Absalom, detailed in 2 Samuel 15. In ancient Israelite culture, prayer was an indispensable aspect of daily life and worship, frequently involving physical postures like prostration, fervent crying out, and direct invocation of YHWH, the covenant God. The concepts of God's faithfulness (אֱמוּנָה, 'emûwnâh) and righteousness (צְדָקָה, tsᵉdâqâh) were not abstract theological ideas but foundational pillars of the covenant relationship between God and His people, Israel. David, as king, understood his dual role as both a shepherd of his nation and an individual utterly reliant on God's justice and mercy for his own life and the stability of his reign. His appeal to these divine attributes reflects a sophisticated theological understanding, where God's unchanging character served as the ultimate and unshakeable ground for hope and trust in a tumultuous world.
  • Key Themes: This opening verse masterfully introduces several profound themes that not only define Psalm 143 but also echo throughout the Davidic psalms and the broader tapestry of biblical theology. Foremost is the theme of urgent supplication, powerfully conveyed through David's repeated, insistent calls for God to "hear" and "give ear." This emphasizes the profound intensity of his need and his absolute, desperate dependence on divine intervention. Secondly, the verse highlights the critical theme of reliance on God's character as the exclusive foundation for prayer. David makes no appeal to his own merit or righteousness, but rather to God's inherent, unchanging faithfulness and perfect righteousness. This underscores the vital truth that our confidence in prayer stems not from our own worthiness, but from the unassailable nature of who God is. This profound theological principle is consistently affirmed throughout Scripture, as seen in passages like Hebrews 4:16, which encourages believers to approach God's throne of grace with boldness, knowing that He is both merciful and faithful. Finally, the verse subtly but powerfully introduces the theme of divine justice and vindication. By appealing to God's righteousness, David expresses a deep desire for God to act justly in his situation, whether that involves delivering him from oppression or forgiving his sins, a recurring motif in other psalms of lament and confession, such as Psalm 51.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Hear (Hebrew, shâmaʻ', H8085): A primitive root meaning to hear intelligently, often with the implication of attention, obedience, or understanding. In this context, David's plea is not merely for God to perceive sound, but to listen actively, to comprehend the depth of his distress, and to respond effectively. It is an urgent request for God to engage with his prayer in a way that leads to decisive action and intervention.
  • LORD (Hebrew, Yᵉhôvâh', H3068): Derived from the root meaning "to be" or "to exist," this is the sacred, personal covenant name of God, YHWH, often translated as "the self-Existent" or "the Eternal One." By addressing God as YHWH, David appeals to the God who has revealed Himself in covenant relationship with Israel, emphasizing His unwavering presence, His faithfulness to His promises, and His unique sovereignty.
  • faithfulness (Hebrew, ʼĕmûwnâh', H530): This feminine noun signifies firmness, security, and morally, fidelity. It speaks to God's steadfastness, reliability, and unwavering commitment to His covenant promises and His own character. David trusts that God will act consistently with His immutable nature and His revealed word, providing a firm foundation for his desperate plea.
  • righteousness (Hebrew, tsᵉdâqâh', H6666): From the root meaning "to be right," this term encompasses rightness in an abstract sense, subjective rectitude, objective justice, moral virtue, and even figurative prosperity. It refers to God's perfect justice, His inherent moral integrity, and the absolute rightness of all His judgments and actions. David appeals to God to do what is inherently just and right in his situation, seeking vindication or deliverance that aligns with God's holy and perfect standards.

Verse Breakdown

  • "A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD": This introductory clause identifies the author, David, and immediately establishes the urgent, personal nature of the communication. David, in a state of profound distress, directly addresses YHWH, the personal covenant God of Israel, with an imperative plea for His undivided attention. The verb "Hear" (שָׁמַע, shâmaʻ) is not a casual request but a fervent, earnest cry for God to actively listen, understand, and respond to his petition.
  • "give ear to my supplications": This phrase functions as a powerful synonymous parallel to the preceding clause, intensifying the urgency and depth of David's appeal. "Give ear" (אָזַן, ʼâzan) metaphorically implies bending down to listen closely and attentively, signifying a deep, personal engagement from God. "Supplications" (תַּחֲנוּן, tachănûwn) refers to earnest prayer, specifically a plea for grace or favor, acknowledging the petitioner's own unworthiness and complete reliance on divine mercy rather than personal merit.
  • "in thy faithfulness answer me": Here, David explicitly grounds his request not in any personal merit or deservingness, but entirely in God's inherent and unchanging character. "Faithfulness" (אֱמוּנָה, ʼĕmûwnâh) refers to God's steadfastness, reliability, and unwavering commitment to His covenant promises. David trusts that God's very nature compels Him to respond to His people, to be true to Himself and His word. He asks for an "answer" (עָנָה, ʻânâh), which implies a direct, effective, and favorable response to his plea.
  • "and in thy righteousness": This concluding phrase further anchors David's appeal in the divine character, serving as a parallel to "in thy faithfulness." "Righteousness" (צְדָקָה, tsᵉdâqâh) speaks to God's perfect justice, His moral integrity, and the inherent rightness of all His actions and judgments. David appeals to God to act justly in his situation, implying a desire for vindication, deliverance from injustice, or a righteous judgment that aligns with God's holy and perfect standards, whether that involves external circumstances or internal spiritual need.

Literary Devices

Psalm 143:1 is rich with evocative literary devices that amplify its emotional and theological impact. Synonymous Parallelism is prominently featured in the opening lines: "Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications." Here, the second clause reiterates and intensifies the meaning of the first, underscoring David's profound earnestness and the depth of his desperate need for God's immediate attention and response. The phrase "give ear" can be understood as a subtle form of Personification, attributing a human-like action (bending an ear to listen closely) to God, thereby making the divine listener feel more intimately present and accessible. The entire verse functions as a powerful Invocation and establishes the Lament genre, immediately setting a tone of deep distress and direct, personal appeal to the divine. Furthermore, David's appeal to "thy faithfulness" and "thy righteousness" is a sophisticated Appeal to Divine Attributes, a rhetorical strategy that grounds the petitioner's hope and confidence not in their own merit or circumstances, but squarely in the unchanging, perfect, and reliable character of God, thereby strengthening the plea with theological weight.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Psalm 143:1 articulates a foundational theological truth that undergirds all genuine prayer: the efficacy and confidence of our supplications rest not on our own worthiness or performance, but entirely on the immutable character of God. David, despite his stature as king and "a man after God's own heart," approaches the Almighty from a posture of profound humility and absolute dependence, appealing solely to God's unwavering faithfulness and perfect righteousness. This highlights that God's response to prayer is an outflow of His very being—His steadfast love, His covenant promises, and His inherent justice. It teaches believers that even when overwhelmed by sin, suffering, or adverse circumstances, we can confidently draw near to God, knowing that He is eternally true to His word and perfectly righteous in all His ways. This foundational principle shifts the focus from human inadequacy to divine perfection, providing an unshakeable basis for hope and trust in every season of life.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Psalm 143:1 offers a timeless and profound blueprint for how believers are to approach God in prayer, especially during seasons of deep distress, confusion, or perceived injustice. It calls us to an earnestness that transcends mere words, urging us to pour out our hearts before the LORD with unwavering sincerity and raw honesty, just as David did. More profoundly, it redirects our focus from our own perceived merit or deservingness to the unshakeable foundation of God's character. When we pray, our confidence should not be in our eloquence, our piety, or our past deeds, but solely in God's immutable faithfulness to His promises and His perfect righteousness in all His judgments. This perspective liberates us from the heavy burden of self-justification, allowing us to rest in the profound assurance that God will act according to His holy nature, always doing what is right and true, even if His timing or methods differ from our expectations. It encourages us to persevere in prayer, trusting that the God who is eternally faithful and perfectly righteous will indeed hear and answer in His perfect wisdom and love.

Questions for Reflection

  • In what specific areas of your life do you feel most compelled to cry out to God with urgent supplication, mirroring David's plea?
  • How does a deeper understanding of God's unwavering faithfulness and perfect righteousness transform your approach to Him in prayer, particularly when you feel unworthy or desperate?
  • What specific promises of God's faithfulness, found in Scripture, can you cling to and declare when seeking His answer to your supplications today?
  • How might appealing to God's inherent righteousness influence your perspective and posture when facing situations of injustice or deeply challenging circumstances?

FAQ

What does it mean for David to appeal to God's "faithfulness" and "righteousness" in prayer?

Answer: When David appeals to God's "faithfulness" (Hebrew: ʼemûwnâh), he is relying on God's steadfastness, reliability, and unwavering commitment to His covenant promises. He trusts that God is true to His word and will act consistently with His revealed character, which is immutable. His appeal to God's "righteousness" (Hebrew: tsᵉdâqâh) is a plea for God to act according to His perfect justice and moral integrity. This means David is asking God to do what is inherently right and just in his situation, whether it involves delivering him from enemies, vindicating him from false accusations, or forgiving his sins. It grounds his hope in God's perfect nature, not in his own merit, acknowledging that God's actions are always aligned with His holy character.

Is Psalm 143:1 a prayer for forgiveness or for deliverance from enemies?

Answer: While Psalm 143:1 itself is a general, urgent plea for God to "hear" and "answer," the broader context of Psalm 143 reveals it to be a comprehensive prayer encompassing both a plea for deliverance from enemies and a confession of sin. This dual focus is characteristic of a Penitential Psalm. Later verses in the psalm clearly speak of external threats, such as Psalm 143:3, where David describes enemies pursuing him and crushing his life. Simultaneously, Psalm 143:2 acknowledges his own sinfulness and the impossibility of being justified before God by his own deeds. Therefore, the opening verse sets the stage for a holistic cry for God's merciful and just intervention in all aspects of David's profound distress, both external and internal.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Psalm 143:1, with David's desperate plea grounded in God's unwavering faithfulness and perfect righteousness, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. David's longing for a righteous answer and faithful deliverance from his plight profoundly foreshadows the perfect intercession and redemptive work of Christ. Jesus, as the incarnate Son of God, perfectly embodies God's faithfulness (Hebrews 3:2) and His absolute righteousness (Romans 3:21-22). Where David and all humanity fall short in righteousness and stand in desperate need of God's merciful answer, Christ stands as the one who perfectly fulfilled all righteousness on our behalf (Matthew 3:15). Furthermore, Jesus is the ultimate "answer" to humanity's deepest supplications, not merely hearing our prayers but actively interceding for us as our compassionate and powerful High Priest (Hebrews 7:25). Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, He became our righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21), enabling us to approach God's throne of grace with boldness (Hebrews 4:16), confident that our prayers are heard and answered "in Him" according to God's perfect faithfulness and justice, which were fully revealed, vindicated, and satisfied in the cross.

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Commentary on Psalms 143 verses 1–6

Here, I. David humbly begs to be heard (Psa 143:1), not as if he questioned it, but he earnestly desired it, and was in care about it, for, having desired it, and was in care about it, for having directed his prayer, he looked up to see how it sped, Hab 2:1. He is a suppliant to his God, and he begs that his requests may be granted: Hear my prayer; give ear to my supplications. He is an appellant against his persecutors, and he begs that his case may be brought to hearing and that God will give judgment upon it, in his faithfulness and righteousness, as the Judge of right and wrong. Or, "Answer my petitions in thy faithfulness, according to the promises thou hast made, which thou wilt be just to." We have no righteousness of our own to plead, and therefore must plead God's righteousness, the word of promise which he has freely given us and caused us to hope in.

II. He humbly begs not to be proceeded against in strict justice, Psa 143:2. He seems here, if not to correct, yet to explain, his plea (Psa 143:1), Deliver me in thy righteousness; "I mean," says he, "the righteous promises of the gospel, not the righteous threatenings of the law; if I be answered according to the righteousness of this broken covenant of innocency, I am quite undone;" and therefore, 1. His petition is, "Enter not into judgment with thy servant; do not deal with me in strict justice, as I deserve to be dealt with." In this prayer we must own ourselves to be God's servants, bound to obey him, accountable to him, and solicitous to obtain his favour, and we must approve ourselves to him. We must acknowledge that in many instances we have offended him, and have come short of our duty to him, that he might justly enquire into our offences, and proceed against us for them according to law, and that, if he should do so, judgment would certainly go against us; we have nothing to move in arrest or mitigation of it, but execution would be taken out and awarded and then we should be ruined for ever. But we must encourage ourselves with a hope that there is mercy and forgiveness with God, and be earnest with him for the benefit of that mercy. "Enter not into judgment with thy servant, for thou hast already entered into judgment with thy Son, and laid upon him the iniquity of us all. Enter not into judgment with thy servant, for thy servant enters into judgment with himself;" and, if we will judge ourselves, we shall not be judged. 2. His plea is, "In thy sight shall no man living be justified upon those terms, for no man can plead innocency nor any righteousness of his own, either that he has not sinned or that he does not deserve to die for his sins; nor that he has any satisfaction of his own to offer;" nay, if God contend with us, we are not able to answer him for one of a thousand, Job 9:3; Job 15:20. David, before he prays for the removal of his trouble, prays for the pardon of his sin, and depends upon mere mercy for it.

III. He complains of the prevalency of his enemies against him (Psa 143:3): "Saul, that great enemy, has persecuted my soul, sought my life, with a restless malice, and has carried the persecution so far that he has already smitten it down to the ground. Though I am not yet under ground, I am struck to the ground, and that is next door to it; he has forced me to dwell in darkness, not only in dark caves, but in dark thoughts and apprehensions, in the clouds of melancholy, as helpless and hopeless as those that have been long dead. Lord, let me find mercy with thee, for I find no mercy with men. They condemn me; but, Lord, do not thou condemn me. Am not I an object of thy compassion, fit to be appeared for; and is not my enemy an object of thy displeasure, fit to be appeared against?"

IV. He bemoans the oppression of his mind, occasioned by his outward troubles (Psa 143:4): Therefore is my spirit overpowered and overwhelmed within me, and I am almost plunged in despair; when without are fightings within are fears, and those fears greater tyrants and oppressors than Saul himself and not so easily out-run. It is sometimes the lot of the best men to have their spirits for a time almost overwhelmed and their hearts desolate, and doubtless it is their infirmity. David was not only a great saint, but a great soldier, and yet even he was sometimes ready to faint in a day of adversity. Howl, fir-trees, if the cedars be shaken.

V. He applies himself to the use of proper means for the relief of his troubled spirit. He had no force to muster up against the oppression of the enemy, but, if he can keep possession of nothing else, he will do what he can to keep possession of his own soul and to preserve his inward peace. In order to this, 1. He looks back, and remembers the days of old (Psa 143:5), God's former appearances for his afflicted people and for him in particular. It has been often a relief to the people of God in their straits to think of the wonders which their fathers told them of, Psa 77:5, Psa 77:11. 2. He looks round, and takes notice of the works of God in the visible creation, and the providential government of the world: I meditate on all thy works. Many see them, but do not see the footsteps of God's wisdom, power, and goodness in them, and do not receive the benefit they might by them because they do not meditate upon them; they do not dwell on that copious curious subject, but soon quit it, as if they had exhausted it, when they have scarcely touched upon it. I muse on, or (as some read it) I discourse of, the operation of thy hands, how great, how good, it is! The more we consider the power of God the less we shall fear the face or force of man, Isa 51:12, Isa 51:13. 3. He looks up with earnest desires towards God and his favour (Psa 143:6): "I stretch forth my hands unto thee, as one begging an alms, and big with expectation to receive something great, standing ready to lay hold on it and bid it welcome. My soul thirsteth after thee; it is to thee (so the word is), entire for thee, intent on thee; it is as a thirsty land, which, being parched with excessive heat, gapes for rain; so do I need, so do I crave, the support and refreshment of divine consolations under my afflictions, and nothing else will relieve me." This is the best course we can take when our spirits are overwhelmed; and justly do those sink under their load who will not take such a ready way as this to ease themselves.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–6. Public domain.
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Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 143
Let then our Lord speak; let Christ with us, whole Christ, speak. "Lord, hear my prayer, receive with Your ears my entreaty" [Psalm 143:1]. "Hear" and "receive with ears" are the same thing. It is repetition, it is confirmation. "In Your truth hear me, in Your righteousness." Take it not without emphasis when it is said, "in Your righteousness." For it is a commendation of grace, that none of us think his righteousness his own. For this is the righteousness of God, which God has given you to possess. For what says the Apostle of them, who would boast of their own righteousness? Speaking of the Jews, he says, "they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge." [Romans 10:2] ...You are perverse, because you impute what you have done ill to God, what well to yourself: you will be right, when you impute what you have done ill to yourself, what well to God....Behold, "in Your righteousness hear me." For when I look upon myself, nought else do I find my own, save sin.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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