This psalm deepens the movement from abandonment to moral reckoning, humility, and the search for guidance.
— Psalm 143 (Vulgate / Hebrew)
Domine, exaudi orationem meam
By GRAHAM JOHN
A psalm of supplication and moral realism, acknowledging human frailty while seeking mercy, guidance, and renewal of spirit.
12 verses total
VERSUS 1–12 (LATIN + LITERAL ENGLISH + WORD NOTES)
1
Domine, exaudi orationem meam: auribus percipe obsecrationem meam in veritate tua: exaudi me in tua justitia.
O Lord, hear my prayer; give ear to my supplication in your truth; answer me in your justice.
Word Notes
- exaudiō, exaudīre, exaudīvī, exaudītum — to hear, answer
- ōrātiō, ōrātiōnis (f.) — prayer
- auris, auris (f.) — ear
- percipiō, percipere, percēpī, perceptum — to perceive
- obsecrātiō, obsecrātiōnis (f.) — supplication
- vēritās, vēritātis (f.) — truth
- jūstitia, jūstitiae (f.) — justice
2
Et non intres in judicium cum servo tuo: quia non justificabitur in conspectu tuo omnis vivens.
And do not enter into judgment with your servant, for no living being will be justified in your sight.
Word Notes
- intrō, intrāre, intrāvī, intrātum — to enter
- judicium, judiciī (n.) — judgment
- servus, servī (m.) — servant
- jūstificō, jūstificāre, jūstificāvī — to justify
- vīvō, vīvere, vīxī — to live
3
Quia persecutus est inimicus animam meam: humiliavit in terra vitam meam.
For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground.
Word Notes
- persequor, persequī, persecutus sum — to pursue
- inimīcus, inimīcī (m.) — enemy
- humiliō, humiliāre, humiliāvī — to humble, crush
- vita, vitae (f.) — life
4
Collocavit me in obscuris sicut mortuos sæculi: et anxiatus est super me spiritus meus.
He has placed me in darkness like those long dead; my spirit within me is distressed.
Word Notes
- collocō, collocāre, collocāvī — to place
- obscūrus, obscūra, obscūrum — dark
- mortuus, mortuī (m.) — dead
- anxiō, anxiāre — to distress
5
Recordatus sum dierum antiquorum, meditatus sum in omnibus operibus tuis: in factis manuum tuarum meditabar.
I remembered the days of old; I meditated on all your works; I pondered the deeds of your hands.
Word Notes
- recordor, recordārī, recordātus sum — to remember
- antiquus, antiqua, antiquum — ancient
- meditor, meditārī, meditātus sum — to meditate
- opus, operis (n.) — work
- manus, manūs (f.) — hand
6
Expandi manus meas ad te: anima mea sicut terra sine aqua tibi.
I stretched out my hands to you; my soul is like parched land before you.
Word Notes
- expandō, expandere, expandī, expansum — to stretch out
- sīcūt — like
- terra, terrae (f.) — land
- aqua, aquae (f.) — water
7
Velociter exaudi me, Domine: defecit spiritus meus.
Quickly hear me, O Lord; my spirit has failed.
Word Notes
- velociter — quickly
- dēficiō, dēficere, dēfēcī — to fail
8
Non avertas faciem tuam a me: et similis ero descendentibus in lacum.
Do not turn your face away from me, or I shall be like those who go down into the pit.
Word Notes
- avertō, avertere, avertī — to turn away
- facies, faciēī (f.) — face
- lācus, lācūs (m.) — pit
9
Auditam fac mihi mane misericordiam tuam: quia in te speravi.
Let me hear of your mercy in the morning, for in you I have hoped.
Word Notes
- mane — in the morning
- misericordia, misericordiae (f.) — mercy
- sperō, sperāre, sperāvī — to hope
10
Notam fac mihi viam in qua ambulem: quia ad te levavi animam meam.
Make known to me the way in which I should walk, for to you I have lifted up my soul.
Word Notes
- nōtus, nōta, nōtum — known
- via, viae (f.) — way
- ambulō, ambulāre, ambulāvī — to walk
- levō, levāre, levāvī — to lift
11
Eripe me de inimicis meis, Domine, ad te confugi.
Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord; to you I have fled for refuge.
Word Notes
- ēripiō, ēripere, ēripuī, ēriptum — to rescue
- confugiō, confugere, confūgī — to flee for refuge
12
Doce me facere voluntatem tuam, quia Deus meus es tu: spiritus tuus bonus deducet me in terram rectam.
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; your good spirit will lead me on level ground.
Word Notes
- doceō, docēre, docuī, doctum — to teach
- voluntās, voluntātis (f.) — will
- bonus, bona, bonum — good
- dēdūcō, dēdūcere, dēdūxī — to lead
- rectus, recta, rectum — straight, level
MORPHOLOGY EXERCISES (5)
Identify tense, voice, mood, and principal parts:
- exaudi
- intres
- justificabitur
- recordatus sum
- deducet
MORPHOLOGY EXERCISES — KEY
exaudi
- Verb: exaudiō, exaudīre, exaudīvī, exaudītum
- Tense: present
- Voice: active
- Mood: imperative
- Meaning: hear!
intres
- Verb: intrō, intrāre, intrāvī, intrātum
- Tense: present
- Voice: active
- Mood: subjunctive (negative jussive)
- Meaning: may you not enter
justificabitur
- Verb: jūstificō, jūstificāre, jūstificāvī
- Tense: future
- Voice: passive
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: will be justified
recordatus sum
- Verb: recordor, recordārī, recordātus sum
- Tense: perfect
- Voice: deponent
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: I have remembered
deducet
- Verb: dēdūcō, dēdūcere, dēdūxī
- Tense: future
- Voice: active
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: he will lead
TRANSLATION EXERCISES (5)
Translate into Latin:
- Hear my prayer, O Lord.
- Do not enter into judgment with your servant.
- My soul is like dry land.
- Make known to me the way.
- Teach me to do your will.
TRANSLATION EXERCISES — KEY
- Exaudi orationem meam, Domine.
- Non intres in judicium cum servo tuo.
- Anima mea sicut terra sine aqua est.
- Notam fac mihi viam.
- Doce me facere voluntatem tuam.
SUMMARY (≈120 words)
Psalm 143 is a prayer stripped of self-justification. The psalmist does not plead innocence, but mercy, acknowledging that no one can stand before divine judgment unaided. Memory becomes a stabilising force: recalling God’s past actions sustains hope when the present collapses. The dominant metaphors — drought, darkness, the pit — express existential exhaustion rather than doctrinal despair. Yet the psalm ends not with escape but instruction. Deliverance is inseparable from learning how to walk rightly. Faith here matures into obedience: not merely to survive, but to be reshaped.
REFLECTION QUESTION
Where in your own life have you sought relief, when what was most needed was guidance on how to walk forward?