Psalms 143:9

9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Yahweh. I take refuge in you.

Psalms 143:9 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 143:9

Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies
Either Saul and his courtiers, or Absalom and the conspirators along with him; who were many, and lively and strong, stronger than he; and therefore God only could deliver him, and to him he sought for it, and not to men; and so deliverance from spiritual enemies is only from the Lord;

I flee unto thee to hide me;
from their rage and fury; who was the only asylum or place of refuge for him, where he could be safe. It may be rendered, "with thee have I hid" F25; that is, myself: so Arama gives the sense,

``I have hid myself with thee.''

Jarchi, Aben Ezra, and Kimchi, interpret it to this purpose,

``I have hid my affairs, my straits and troubles, my difficulties and necessities, from men; and have revealed them unto thee, who alone can save.''

The Targum is,

``I have appointed thy Word to be (my) Redeemer.''


FOOTNOTES:

F25 (ytok Kyla) "ad te abscondi me", Montanus; "apud te", Tigurine version; "ad te texi", Cocceius, Michaelis.

Psalms 143:9 In-Context

7 Quickly answer me, O Yahweh; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me, or I will become like [those] descending to [the] pit.
8 Cause me to hear your loyal love in the morning, for I trust you. Cause me to know the way that I should go, for I lift up my soul to you.
9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Yahweh. I take refuge in you.
10 Teach me to do your will, for you [are] my God; your Spirit [is] good. Lead me onto level ground.
11 For your name's sake, O Yahweh, preserve my life; in your righteousness bring me out of trouble.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. This reading for the difficult Hebrew "I cover to you" is suggested by the LXX
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.