Revised Literal Translation
Psalms 143:3
3For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
Psalms 143:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
- New International Version (NIV)The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in darkness, Like those who have long been dead.
Context of Psalms 143:3
1Hear my prayer, O Yhwh, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. 2And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. 4Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. 5I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
Read all of Psalms 143Psalms 143:3 word by word
כִּ֥י רָ֘דַ֤ף אוֹיֵ֨ב׀ נַפְשִׁ֗י דִּכָּ֣א לָ֭אָרֶץ חַיָּתִ֑י הוֹשִׁיבַ֥נִי בְ֝מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗ים כְּמֵתֵ֥י עוֹלָֽם׃Read the interlinear
- For the enemyאֹיֵב'ôyêb 'ôyêb · enemyH341
- hath persecutedרָדַףrâdaph · to pursueH7291
- my soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
- he hath smittenדָּכָאdâkâ' · to crushH1792
- my lifeחַיָּהchay · living thingH2416
- to the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
- he hath made me to dwellיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- in darknessמַחְשָׁךְmachshâk · darknessH4285
- as those that have been longעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: antiquityH5769
- deadמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
Cross-references for Psalms 143:3
- Psalms 7:1O Yhwh my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:
- Psalms 17:9From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
- Psalms 35:4Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
- Psalms 54:3For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
- Psalms 142:6Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
- Psalms 7:5Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.
- 2 Samuel 2:22And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?
- 2 Samuel 18:11And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.
- Psalms 31:12I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
- Psalms 88:4I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:
- Ezekiel 37:11Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
Commentaries on Psalms 143:3
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3For the enemy hath persecuted my soul - Has persecuted me; has sought my life. He hath smitten my life down to the ground - He has, as it were, trampled me down to the earth. The word rendered “smitten” means to break in pieces, to beat small, to crush. See Psalm 72:4; Psalm 89:10; Job 6:9. His very life seemed to be crushed out as one that is trodden down to the ground. He hath made me to dwell in darkness - He has made my life like that of one who…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4My spirit grows faint within me: The psalmist admits his desperation as his life seems to slip away under cruel and powerful enemies.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-43-4. The exciting reason for his prayer--his afflictions--led to confession as just made: he now makes the complaint. as those that have been long dead--deprived of life's comforts (compare Psa 40:15; 88:3-6).Read the comment
- Rashi on Tanakh · v. 3For an enemy pursued my soul That is to say: If I have sinned before You, behold, I have suffered. This psalm was recited as referring to all of Israel in Babylon.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 143:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 143
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
Revised Literal Translation — © 2018 Michael W. Jones, Sr. — GPL
Commentaries