Mazmur 143:9-12

143:9 Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord!

I run to you for protection. ¹ 

143:10 Teach me to do what pleases you, ² 

for you are my God.

May your kind presence ³ 

lead me ⁴  into a level land. ⁵ 

143:11 O Lord, for the sake of your reputation, ⁶  revive me! ⁷ 

Because of your justice, rescue me from trouble! ⁸ 

143:12 As a demonstration of your loyal love, ⁹  destroy my enemies!

Annihilate ¹⁰  all who threaten my life, ¹¹ 

for I am your servant.

[143:9]  ¹ tn Heb “to you I cover,” which makes no sense. The translation assumes an emendation to נַסְתִּי (nastiy, “I flee,” a Qal perfect, first singular form from נוּס, nos). Confusion of kaf (כ) and nun (נ) is attested elsewhere (see P. K. McCarter, Textual Criticism [GBS], 48). The collocation of נוּס (“flee”) with אֶל (’el, “to”) is well-attested.

[143:10]  ² tn Or “your will.” See Ps 40:8.

[143:10]  ³ tn Heb “your good spirit.” God’s “spirit” may refer here to his presence (see the note on the word “presence” in Ps 139:7) or to his personal Spirit (see Ps 51:10).

[143:10]  ⁴ tn The prefixed verbal form is taken as a jussive. Taking the statement as a prayer fits well with the petitionary tone of vv. 7-10a.

[143:10]  ⁵ sn A level land (where one can walk free of obstacles) here symbolizes divine blessing and protection. See Pss 26:12 and 27:11 for similar imagery.

[143:11]  ⁶ tn Heb “name,” which here stands metonymically for God’s reputation.

[143:11]  ⁷ tn The imperfect verbal forms in vv. 11-12a are understood as expressing the psalmist’s desire. Note the petitionary tone of vv. 7-10a.

[143:11]  ⁸ tn Heb “by your justice bring out my life from trouble.”

[143:12]  ⁹ tn Heb “in [or “by”] your faithfulness.”

[143:12]  ¹⁰ tn The perfect with vav (ו) consecutive carries on the mood of the preceding imperfect.

[143:12]  ¹¹ tn Heb “all the enemies of my life.”