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.
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.
2 tn Or “your will.” See Ps 40:8.
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).
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.
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.
6 tn Heb “name,” which here stands metonymically for God’s reputation.
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.
8 tn Heb “by your justice bring out my life from trouble.”
9 tn Heb “in [or “by”] your faithfulness.”
10 tn The perfect with vav (ו) consecutive carries on the mood of the preceding imperfect.
11 tn Heb “all the enemies of my life.”