Discovery BoxPsalms 143:10-12 
Context143:10 Teach me to do what pleases you, 1
for you are my God.
May your kind presence 2
lead me 3 into a level land. 4
143:11 O Lord, for the sake of your reputation, 5 revive me! 6
Because of your justice, rescue me from trouble! 7
143:12 As a demonstration of your loyal love, 8 destroy my enemies!
Annihilate 9 all who threaten my life, 10
for I am your servant.
1 tn Or “your will.” See Ps 40:8.
2 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 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 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 tn Heb “name,” which here stands metonymically for God’s reputation.
6 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 tn Heb “by your justice bring out my life from trouble.”
8 tn Heb “in [or “by”] your faithfulness.”
9 tn The perfect with vav (ו) consecutive carries on the mood of the preceding imperfect.
10 tn Heb “all the enemies of my life.”
