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10 Teach me to do what pleases you,[a]
for you are my God.
May your kind presence[b]
lead me[c] into a level land.[d]
11 O Lord, for the sake of your reputation,[e] revive me.[f]
Because of your justice, rescue me from trouble.[g]
12 As a demonstration of your loyal love,[h] destroy my enemies.
Annihilate[i] all who threaten my life,[j]
for I am your servant.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 143:10 tn Or “your will.” See Ps 40:8.
  2. Psalm 143:10 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).
  3. Psalm 143:10 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.
  4. Psalm 143:10 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.
  5. Psalm 143:11 tn Heb “name,” which here stands metonymically for God’s reputation.
  6. Psalm 143:11 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.
  7. Psalm 143:11 tn Heb “by your justice bring out my life from trouble.”
  8. Psalm 143:12 tn Heb “in [or “by”] your faithfulness.”
  9. Psalm 143:12 tn The perfect with vav (ו) consecutive carries on the mood of the preceding imperfect.
  10. Psalm 143:12 tn Heb “all the enemies of my life.”