Psalm 143:1
143:1 A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to
      my supplications: {a} in thy faithfulness answer me, [and]
      in thy {b} righteousness.

      (a) That is, as you have promised to be faithful in your
          promise to all who trust in you.
      (b) That is, according to your free goodness, by which you
          defend your own.

Psalm 143:2
143:2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy
      {c} sight shall no man living be justified.

      (c) He know that his afflictions were God's messengers to
          call him to repentance for his sins, though toward his
          enemies he was innocent, and in God's sight all men
          are sinners.

Psalm 143:3
143:3 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 {d} long dead.

      (d) He acknowledges that God is the only and true
          physician and heal him: and that he is able to raise
          him to life, though he were dead long ago, and turned
          to ashes.

Psalm 143:4
143:4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my {e} heart
      within me is desolate.

      (e) So that only by faith and by the grace of God's Spirit
          was he upheld.

Psalm 143:5
143:5 I remember the {f} days of old; I meditate on all thy
      works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

      (f) That is, your great benefits of old, and the manifold
          examples of your favour towards your own.

Psalm 143:8
143:8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the {g} morning;
      for in thee do I trust: {h} cause me to know the way
      wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

      (g) That is, speedily and in due season.
      (h) Let your Holy Spirit counsel me how to come forth from
          these great cares and troubles.

Psalm 143:9
143:9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: {i} I flee unto
      thee to hide me.

      (i) I hid myself under the shadow of your wings that I
          might be defended by your power.

Psalm 143:10
143:10 {k} Teach me to {l} do thy will; for thou [art] my God:
       thy spirit [is] good; lead me into the land of
       uprightness.

       (k) He confesses that both the knowledge and obedience of
           God's will comes by the Spirit of God, who teaches us
           by his word, gives understanding by his Spirit, and
           frames our hearts by his grace to obey him.
       (l) That is, justly and aright, for as soon as we decline
           from God's will, we fall into error.

Psalm 143:12
143:12 And of thy mercy {m} cut off mine enemies, and destroy
       all them that afflict my soul: for I [am] thy {n}
       servant.

       (m) Which will be a sign of your fatherly kindness toward
           me.
       (n) Resigning myself wholly to you, and trusting in your
           protection.