Verse (Click for Chapter) 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 VersionFor 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 BibleFor 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 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 BibleFor 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 1917For 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. Jump to Previous Bruised Caused Crushed Crushes Dark Darkness Dead Dwell Earth Enemy Evil Ground Life Makes Persecuted Places Pursued Pursues Sit Smitten Soul StruckJump to Next Bruised Caused Crushed Crushes Dark Darkness Dead Dwell Earth Enemy Evil Ground Life Makes Persecuted Places Pursued Pursues Sit Smitten Soul StruckPsalm 143 1. David prays for favor in judgment3. 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 has pursued my soul This phrase reflects the intense personal struggle and spiritual warfare faced by the psalmist, traditionally attributed to David. The "enemy" can be understood as both physical adversaries, such as King Saul or the Philistines, and spiritual forces of evil. In the broader biblical context, the enemy often symbolizes Satan and his attempts to lead believers away from God (1 Peter 5:8). The pursuit of the soul indicates a relentless attack on the psalmist's innermost being, suggesting a deep, existential threat rather than merely physical danger. Crushing my life to the ground Making me dwell in darkness Like those long since dead Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidTraditionally attributed as the author of this psalm, David is expressing a deep sense of distress and persecution, likely during a time of personal crisis or when pursued by enemies such as King Saul or his son Absalom. 2. Enemies The adversaries who are pursuing David, representing both physical foes and spiritual forces of darkness that seek to oppress and destroy. 3. Darkness Symbolic of despair, hopelessness, and separation from God’s presence, often used in the Psalms to describe a state of spiritual or emotional turmoil. 4. The Grave (Sheol) The reference to "those long since dead" evokes the Hebrew concept of Sheol, a place of darkness and silence, emphasizing the depth of David's despair. 5. Pursuit The relentless chase by enemies, which can be both literal and metaphorical, representing ongoing spiritual battles faced by believers. Teaching Points Understanding Spiritual WarfareRecognize that believers face both physical and spiritual enemies. The pursuit by enemies in Psalm 143:3 can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual warfare, where the enemy seeks to crush our spirit and lead us into darkness. The Reality of Despair Acknowledge that even faithful believers like David experience times of deep despair and darkness. It is important to bring these feelings before God in prayer, as David does throughout the Psalms. God as Our Refuge Despite the darkness, believers are encouraged to seek refuge in God. Psalm 143 as a whole is a plea for deliverance and guidance, reminding us that God is our ultimate source of hope and light. Perseverance in Faith In times of trial, maintain faith and trust in God's deliverance. The psalmist's cry for help is a model of perseverance and reliance on God's faithfulness. The Power of Prayer Use prayer as a powerful tool to combat spiritual darkness. David's psalm is a heartfelt prayer that demonstrates the importance of turning to God in times of need.(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 Forכִּ֥י (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 Links Psalm 143:3 NIVPsalm 143:3 NLT Psalm 143:3 ESV Psalm 143:3 NASB Psalm 143:3 KJV Psalm 143:3 BibleApps.com Psalm 143:3 Biblia Paralela Psalm 143:3 Chinese Bible Psalm 143:3 French Bible Psalm 143:3 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Psalm 143:3 For the enemy pursues my soul (Psalm Ps Psa.) |
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