Psalms 143:6

6 I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.^[a]

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Psalms 143:6 in Other Translations

KJV

6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

ESV

6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah

NLT

6 I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. Interlude

MSG

6 Stretched out my hands to you, as thirsty for you as a desert thirsty for rain.

CSB

6 I spread out my hands to You; I am like parched land before You. Selah

Psalms 143:6 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 143:6

I stretch forth my hands unto thee
In prayer, as the Targum adds; for this is a prayer gesture, ( 1 Kings 8:38 ) ( Isaiah 1:15 ) ; both hands were stretched forth, earnestly imploring help, and ready to receive and embrace every blessing bestowed with thankfulness;

my soul [thirsteth] after thee as a thirsty land.
As a dry land, which wants water, gapes, and as it were thirsts for rain, which is very refreshing to it; so his soul thirsted after God, after his word and ordinances, after communion with him in them, after his grace and fresh supplies of it; particularly after pardoning grace and mercy, after the coming of Christ, and the blessings of grace by him; as reconciliation, atonement, righteousness, and salvation; after more knowledge of God and Christ, and divine truths; and after the enjoyment of them in heaven to all eternity. Some copies read, "in a thirsty land" ^F24, and so some versions; see ( Psalms 42:1 Psalms 42:2 ) ( 63:1 ) ( 84:2 ) .

Selah; on this word, (See Gill on Psalms 3:2).

FOOTNOTES:

F24 (Urab) Cod. Heb. Bomberg. Venet. "in terra siticulosa", Musculus, Tarnovius.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Psalms 143:6 In-Context

4 So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.

5 I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.

6 I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.

7 Answer me quickly, LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit.

8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

Cross References 1

1. S Exodus 9:29; S Job 11:13; Psalms 63:1; Psalms 88:9

Footnotes 1

[a]. The Hebrew has "Selah" (a word of uncertain meaning) here.