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.''

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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

• [a]. This reading for the difficult Hebrew "I cover to you" is suggested by the LXX