Read Psalm 143 at Bible Gateway.
The paragraph divisions:
1a Hear my prayer, O Lord, Give ear to my supplications! {n}
1b In Your faithfulness answer me, And in Your righteousness.
2a Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, {n}
2b For in Your sight no one living is righteous.
3a For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; {n}
3b He has made me dwell in darkness, Like those who have long been dead.
4 Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; My heart within me is distressed.
5a I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; {n}
5b I muse on the work of Your hands.
6 I spread out my hands to You; My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah
7a Answer me speedily, O Lord; My spirit fails! {n}
7b Do not hide Your face from me, Lest I be like those who go down into the pit.
8a Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; {n}
8b Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.
9 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; In You I take shelter.
10a Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; {n}
10b Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.
11 Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake! For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
12 In Your mercy cut off my enemies, And destroy all those who afflict my soul; For I am Your servant. {p}
The reverse parallelism:
1a) Psa 143:1-4, Hear my prayer and answer me / the enemy has persecuted my soul:
1) Psa 143:1, Hear my prayer + answer me:
1) Psa 143:1a, Hear my prayer, O Lord, Give ear to my supplications! {n}
2) Psa 143:1b, In Your faithfulness answer me, And in Your righteousness;
2) Psa 143:2-4, Do not enter into judgment with Your servant + the enemy has persecuted my soul + my spirit, heart overwhelmed:
2a Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, {n}
2b For in Your sight no one living is righteous.
3a For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; {n}
3b He has made me dwell in darkness, Like those who have long been dead.
4 Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; My heart within me is distressed.
1b) Psa 143:5a, I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; {n}
2b) Psa 143:5b, I muse on the work of Your hands.
2a) Psa 143:6-12, Answer me speedily + my prayer / those who afflict my soul:
1) Psa 143:6-10, Answer me + my prayer:
2) Psa 143:6-7a, Answer me speedily:
6 I spread out my hands to You; My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah
7a Answer me speedily, O Lord; My spirit fails! {n}
1) Psa 143:7b-10, The psalmists’ prayer:
7b Do not hide Your face from me, Lest I be like those who go down into the pit.
8a Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; {n}
8b Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.
9 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; In You I take shelter.
10a Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; {n}
10b Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.
2) Psa 143:11-12, Revive me + In mercy cut off my enemies for I am Your servant + those who afflict my soul:
11 Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake! For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
12 In Your mercy cut off my enemies, And destroy all those who afflict my soul; For I am Your servant. {p}
There are three matching elements in the 2nd part of the A pair, however not arranged traditionally. They are 1) Your servant: do not enter into judgment with me, for no one living is righteous in Your sight (vs. 2) + In Your mercy cut off my enemies, for I am Your servant (vs. 12). Deserved judgment is contrasted with God’s generous mercy. 2) My enemy who has persecuted my soul (vs. 3) and those who have afflicted my soul (vs. 12); and 3) My spirit is overwhelmed (vs. 4), revive me! (vs. 11).
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