Psalm 143:3
New International Version
The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead.

New Living Translation
My enemy has chased me. He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead.

King James Bible
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 King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead.

NASB 1995
For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead.

NASB 1977
For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the enemy has pursued my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me inhabit dark places, like those who have long been dead.

Amplified Bible
For the enemy has persecuted me, He has crushed my life down to the ground; He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have been long dead.

Christian Standard Bible
For the enemy has pursued me, crushing me to the ground, making me live in darkness like those long dead.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the enemy has pursued me, crushing me to the ground, making me live in darkness like those long dead.

American Standard Version
For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; He hath smitten my life down to the ground: He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.

Contemporary English Version
My enemies are chasing me, crushing me in the ground. I am in total darkness, like someone long dead.

English Revised Version
For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground: he hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The enemy has pursued me. He has ground my life into the dirt. He has made me live in dark places like those who have died long ago.

Good News Translation
My enemies have hunted me down and completely defeated me. They have put me in a dark prison, and I am like those who died long ago.

International Standard Version
For those who oppose me are pursuing my life, crushing me to the ground, making me sit in darkness like those who died long ago.

Majority Standard Bible
For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead.

NET Bible
Certainly my enemies chase me. They smash me into the ground. They force me to live in dark regions, like those who have been dead for ages.

New Heart English Bible
For the enemy pursues my soul. He has struck my life down to the ground. He has made me live in dark places, as those who have been long dead.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
For the enemy pursues my soul. He has struck my life down to the ground. He has made me live in dark places, as those who have been long dead.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
For an enemy has pursued my soul, "" He has bruised my life to the earth, "" He has caused me to dwell in dark places, "" As the dead of old.

Young's Literal Translation
For an enemy hath pursued my soul, He hath bruised to the earth my life, He hath caused me to dwell in dark places, As the dead of old.

Smith's Literal Translation
For the enemy pursued my soul; he crushed to the earth my life; he caused me to dwell in darknesses, as the dead of old.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For the enemy hath persecuted my soul: he hath brought down my life to the earth. He hath made me to dwell in darkness as those that have been dead of old:

Catholic Public Domain Version
For the enemy has pursued my soul. He has lowered my life to the earth. He has stationed me in darkness, like the dead of ages past.

New American Bible
The enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground. He has made me dwell in darkness like those long dead.

New Revised Standard Version
For the enemy has pursued me, crushing my life to the ground, making me sit in darkness like those long dead.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has smitten my life down to the ground; he has made me to dwell in darkness, like those who have been long dead.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because the enemy pursues my soul and he has humbled my life in the Earth and made me to dwell in darkness like the dead for eternity.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; He hath crushed my life down to the ground; He hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has brought my life down to the ground; he has made me to dwell in a dark place, as those that have been long dead.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
I Stretch Out My Hands to You
2Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You. 3For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead. 4My spirit grows faint within me; my heart is dismayed inside me.…

Cross References
Lamentations 3:6
He has made me dwell in darkness like those dead for ages.

Isaiah 59:10
Like the blind, we feel our way along the wall, groping like those without eyes. We stumble at midday as in the twilight; among the vigorous we are like the dead.

Job 30:26-28
But when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, darkness fell. / I am churning within and cannot rest; days of affliction confront me. / I go about blackened, but not by the sun. I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.

Jeremiah 13:16
Give glory to the LORD your God before He brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the dusky mountains. You wait for light, but He turns it into deep gloom and thick darkness.

Micah 7:8
Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will arise; though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.

Isaiah 42:7
to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house.

Job 10:21-22
before I go—never to return—to a land of darkness and gloom, / to a land of utter darkness, of deep shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.”

Psalm 88:6
You have laid me in the lowest Pit, in the darkest of the depths.

Psalm 107:10
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and chains,

Isaiah 9:2
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.

Matthew 4:16
the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”

Luke 1:79
to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

John 12:35
Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

Acts 26:18
to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’

Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,


Treasury of Scripture

For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has smitten my life down to the ground; he has made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

the enemy

Psalm 7:1,2
Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite. O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: …

Psalm 17:9-13
From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about…

Psalm 35:4
Let 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.

smitten

Psalm 7:5
Let 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 2:22
And 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 18:11
And 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.

made me

Psalm 31:12,13
I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel…

Psalm 88:4-6
I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength: …

Ezekiel 37:11
Then 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.

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Bruised Caused Crushed Crushes Dark Darkness Dead Dwell Earth Enemy Evil Ground Life Makes Persecuted Places Pursued Pursues Sit Smitten Soul Struck
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Bruised Caused Crushed Crushes Dark Darkness Dead Dwell Earth Enemy Evil Ground Life Makes Persecuted Places Pursued Pursues Sit Smitten Soul Struck
Psalm 143
1. David prays for favor in judgment
3. He complains of his grief
5. He strengthens his faith by meditation and prayer
7. He prays for grace
9. For deliverance
10. For sanctification
12. For destruction of his enemies














For the enemy
The term "enemy" in this context is often understood as a representation of both physical adversaries and spiritual forces that oppose the psalmist. In Hebrew, the word used is "אֹיֵב" (oyev), which can refer to any foe or adversary. Historically, David faced numerous enemies, including King Saul and foreign nations. Spiritually, this can also be seen as a reference to the devil and the forces of evil that seek to undermine the faith and well-being of believers.

has pursued my soul
The Hebrew word for "pursued" is "רָדַף" (radaf), which conveys a relentless chase or hunt. This pursuit is not merely physical but deeply spiritual and emotional, targeting the very essence of the psalmist's being—his "soul" or "נֶפֶשׁ" (nephesh). This reflects the intense pressure and distress that believers may feel when under attack, whether from external circumstances or internal struggles.

he has crushed my life to the ground
The imagery of being "crushed" is powerful, suggesting a complete overwhelming or subjugation. The Hebrew word "דָּכָא" (daka) means to break or crush, often used to describe a state of utter defeat or humiliation. Historically, this could relate to times when David felt overwhelmed by his enemies, but it also speaks to the spiritual and emotional weight that can bear down on a person, leaving them feeling defeated and without hope.

He has made me dwell in darkness
"Dwell in darkness" uses the Hebrew "מוֹשָׁב" (moshav) for "dwell," indicating a settled or prolonged state. "Darkness" or "חֹשֶׁךְ" (choshech) often symbolizes despair, ignorance, or evil. This phrase captures the feeling of being trapped in a state of hopelessness or spiritual blindness, akin to being cut off from the light of God's presence and guidance.

like those long since dead
This phrase evokes the imagery of Sheol, the abode of the dead in ancient Hebrew thought, where there is no light or life. The comparison to "those long since dead" underscores the depth of the psalmist's despair, feeling as though he is as good as dead, forgotten, and without the vibrancy of life. It reflects a profound sense of isolation and abandonment, yet it also sets the stage for a plea for divine intervention and restoration.

(3) This verse explains the last. The affliction under which the psalmist suffers is evidence that God is visiting for sin.

He hath made . . .--See Lamentations 3:6; and comp. Psalm 88:5-6.

Long dead.--Literally, either dead of old, or dead for ever, according as we take 'olam of past or future time. LXX., ??????? ??????; Vulg., mortuos saeculi.

Verse 3. - For the enemy hath persecuted my soul. "The enemy" may be Saul, but is more probably an abstract expression - for "my enemies" generally. He hath smitten my life down to the ground; or, "crushed my life to the ground" - brought me, i.e., very low (comp. Psalm 42:6). He hath made me to dwell in darkness (comp. Psalm 88:6). As those that have been long dead. I have dwelt in a darkness like that of Shell; i.e. in gloom and unhappiness (comp. Lamentations 3:6).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the enemy
אוֹיֵ֨ב ׀ (’ō·w·yêḇ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 341: Hating, an adversary

has pursued
רָ֘דַ֤ף (rā·ḏap̄)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7291: To pursue, chase, persecute

my soul,
נַפְשִׁ֗י (nap̄·šî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

crushing
דִּכָּ֣א (dik·kā)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1792: To crumble, to bruise

my life
חַיָּתִ֑י (ḥay·yā·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

to the ground,
לָ֭אָרֶץ (lā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

making me dwell
הוֹשִׁיבַ֥נִי (hō·wō·šî·ḇa·nî)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in darkness
בְ֝מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗ים (ḇə·ma·ḥă·šak·kîm)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4285: Darkness, a dark place

like those long since
עוֹלָֽם׃ (‘ō·w·lām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always

dead.
כְּמֵתֵ֥י (kə·mê·ṯê)
Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill


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OT Poetry: Psalm 143:3 For the enemy pursues my soul (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 143:2
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