Psalms · 12 verses
Psalms 143
Every verse links to the people and places named in it, and to the passages readers connect it with.
The chapter
What happens here
Atlas's own reading, written from this chapter and nothing else, and published only once a person has approved it. Each scene names the verses it covers; the names inside it link to the people and places they name.
David asks the LORD not to judge him because no one alive is righteous, then asks to be taught how to walk on level ground.
A soul in the dark, reaching for morningvv. 1–12
David’s prayer begins with a plea for a hearing founded on the LORD’s faithfulness and righteousness, though righteousness is precisely what no living person possesses. An enemy has pursued his soul, crushed his life to the ground, and made him dwell in darkness; his spirit grows faint and his heart is dismayed.
Then the prayer turns towards memory: David recalls ancient days, meditates on the LORD’s works, and considers the work of His hands. He stretches out his hands like a parched land, asks for an answer before his spirit fails, and begs not to be left like those descending to the Pit. Morning should bring loving devotion; the way ahead should be taught; refuge, guidance, revival, and deliverance all arrive in the same breath. The final request is wonderfully severe: cut off the enemies, destroy the afflicters—and do it in loving devotion, since David is the LORD’s servant.
The text
Read it
Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Names the Hebrew and Greek put in the verse link to the person, place or people they name; the address beside each verse is a link to that verse, which is what a reader copies and shares.
Ps 143:1A Psalm of David. O LORD, hear my prayer. In Your faithfulness, give ear to my plea; in Your righteousness, answer me.
Ps 143:2Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.
Ps 143:3For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead.
Ps 143:4My spirit grows faint within me; my heart is dismayed inside me.
Ps 143:5I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I consider the work of Your hands.
Ps 143:6I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land. Selah
Ps 143:7Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide Your face from me, or I will be like those who descend to the Pit.
Ps 143:8Let me hear Your loving devotion in the morning, for I have put my trust in You. Teach me the way I should walk, for to You I lift up my soul.
Ps 143:9Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD; I flee to You for refuge.
Ps 143:10Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Ps 143:11For the sake of Your name, O LORD, revive me. In Your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble.
Ps 143:12And in Your loving devotion, cut off my enemies. Destroy all who afflict me, for I am Your servant.
01 — Also here
Who else the chapter reaches
Names written in the English are linked in the text above. These are the ones that are not: an entity the Hebrew or Greek names under a spelling the translation does not use, or one reached only by an assertion about a verse of this chapter.
Reached by an assertion Atlas extracted from a verse of this chapter rather than by a name written in it — a pronoun, a title, or a participant the sentence carries without naming. This layer is model-read and measured at 88.6–90.3% precision, and it is kept separate from the names above for that reason.
02 — Read alongside
Where this is echoed
Readers' own connections, from OpenBible's crowd-voted cross-references — agreement about relevance, and not scholarly confidence. 167 passages were voted onto 12 verses of this chapter; the 16 shown lead on votes, and each is listed at the verse it was voted onto most strongly.
- 8Psalms 25:4–5Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths.
- 8Proverbs 3:5–6Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
- 8Psalms 32:8I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.
- 8Isaiah 48:17Thus says the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for your benefit, who directs you in the way you should go.
- 8Isaiah 30:21And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.”
- 10John 14:26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.
- 8Psalms 59:16But I will sing of Your strength and proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning. For You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.
- 8Psalms 27:11Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path, because of my oppressors.
- 8Psalms 90:14Satisfy us in the morning with Your loving devotion, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
- 8Lamentations 3:41Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven:
- 8Psalms 86:4Bring joy to Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
- 10Hebrews 13:21equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
- 8Genesis 32:24–29So Jacob was left all alone, and there a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
- 10Psalms 23:3He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.
- 10Nehemiah 9:20You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold Your manna from their mouths, and You gave them water for their thirst.
- 1Psalms 71:2In Your justice, rescue and deliver me; incline Your ear and save me.
Onward