Psalm 143 12

Psalm 143:12 kjv

And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

Psalm 143:12 nkjv

In Your mercy cut off my enemies, And destroy all those who afflict my soul; For I am Your servant.

Psalm 143:12 niv

In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

Psalm 143:12 esv

And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.

Psalm 143:12 nlt

In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies
and destroy all my foes,
for I am your servant.

Psalm 143 verses

Psalm 143 12 Meaning

Psalm 143:12 is a fervent plea from the psalmist to the Living God for deliverance from his enemies, invoking God's steadfast love and mercy, and asserting his own identity as God's devoted servant. It expresses a deep yearning for divine intervention to utterly remove all sources of affliction and oppression. The verse underscores absolute reliance on God’s power and faithfulness to achieve full liberation from adversaries.

Psalm 143 12 Context

Psalm 143 is the last of the seven Penitential Psalms (Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143), characterized by expressions of sorrow for sin, confession, and petitions for divine mercy. Composed by David, it reflects a period of profound distress and spiritual struggle, possibly during a time of great personal danger from relentless adversaries, such as during Absalom’s rebellion or King Saul's pursuit.

Throughout the psalm, David laments his weakened state, confesses his spiritual inadequacy, and pours out his heart to God. He acknowledges God’s righteousness (v. 1-2) and his own utter helplessness (v. 3-4). He recalls God's past works (v. 5) and cries out for immediate divine help, guidance, and rescue (v. 7-11). Verse 12 serves as the climactic petition, asserting a double claim for divine intervention: God's loyal love as the basis for the action, and the psalmist's identity as God's faithful servant as the warrant for the petition. It is a desperate yet faith-filled cry for total vindication and the complete removal of all oppression.

Psalm 143 12 Word analysis

• And: Connects this ultimate plea to the preceding cries for deliverance and guidance, emphasizing it as the culmination of David's prayer.
• of Your mercy (וּבְחַסְדְּךָ - u'v'chasdekha): From the Hebrew term chesed (חֶסֶד). This is a crucial theological term denoting God’s loyal love, steadfast affection, unfailing grace, and covenant faithfulness. It is not mere pity but a committed, unwavering loyalty shown by God, often demonstrated in keeping His promises to His people. The psalmist appeals to God's very nature and His covenant character as the grounds for his plea, rather than his own merit.
• cut off (תַּצְמִית - tatsmit): From the verb tsamath (צָמַת). It means to bring to an end, to exterminate, to destroy utterly, to abolish. It conveys a decisive and complete eradication. This is a strong verb indicating a desire for absolute cessation of the threat.
• my enemies (אֹיְבָי - oy'vai): Refers to the personal adversaries who persecute or oppose the psalmist. These are specific human or spiritual forces actively causing distress.
• and destroy (וְהַאֲבַדְתָּ - v'ha'avadta): From the verb `avad (אָבַד). It means to perish, be lost, be ruined, to be destroyed. This verb intensifies the meaning of "cut off," indicating a desire for absolute annihilation of the oppressive forces.
• all those who afflict my soul (כָּל־צָרְרֵי נַפְשִׁי - kol-tsor'rei nafshi):
  • tsor'rei (צָרְרֵי) from tsarar (צָרַר) meaning to bind, besiege, be narrow, be hostile, oppress, vex, torment. It indicates intense and ongoing persecution and harassment.
  • nafshi (נַפְשִׁי) refers to "my soul" or "my life" or "my very being." This indicates that the affliction is not merely external or superficial but penetrates to the core of the psalmist’s existence, causing deep anguish and distress. This emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the desired deliverance.
• for (כִּי - ki): This conjunction introduces the reason or justification for the request. It states the ground on which the petition is made. "Because."
• I am Your servant (אֲנִי עַבְדֶּךָ - ani `avdekha): `Eved (עֶבֶד) signifies a servant or bondservant, one wholly dedicated and loyal to a master. This declaration is a key relational statement. It asserts David's belonging to God, implying a reciprocal duty on God's part to protect and vindicate His own. It highlights dependency, obedience, and an expectation that God will preserve those who serve Him faithfully. It is not a boast of personal merit, but an appeal to the covenant relationship.

Words-group Analysis

• "And of Your mercy cut off my enemies": This phrase highlights that the source and motivation for the drastic act of cutting off enemies is God's covenantal love, not human power or desert. It is God's inherent goodness and faithfulness to His promises that empower the deliverance.
• "and destroy all those who afflict my soul": This expresses the profound depth and totality of the desired liberation. The suffering is internal ("afflict my soul"), indicating a torment that goes beyond mere physical threat, demanding a complete spiritual and emotional release facilitated by divine destruction of the oppressive forces.
• "for I am Your servant": This climactic clause forms the theological foundation for the entire plea. It positions the psalmist within a protective covenant relationship with God. It signifies dependence, dedication, and the expectation that God will honor His commitment to care for His own. This phrase anchors the petition in a relational bond, implying both trust and the legitimate ground for divine intervention.

Psalm 143 12 Bonus section

• This prayer of imprecation (calling for judgment on enemies) in the Psalms is often misunderstood. It reflects a desire for divine justice against wickedness and oppression, aligning with God's ultimate role as judge. It is an act of handing over vengeance to God, rather than taking it into one's own hands, signifying reliance on divine sovereignty and righteousness.
• The concept of "enemies" in this psalm can extend beyond physical foes to internal struggles, temptations, or spiritual adversaries that "afflict the soul" and hinder one's walk with God, reflecting a perennial human and spiritual battle.
• The psalmist's appeal to "mercy" over justice for himself in verse 2, followed by an appeal to "mercy" for the destruction of his enemies in verse 12, highlights the multifaceted nature of chesed – it provides forgiveness for the repentant and judgment for the obstinately wicked who oppose God’s purposes.

Psalm 143 12 Commentary

Psalm 143:12 encapsulates a desperate yet faith-filled prayer for complete liberation rooted in God’s character and a faithful relationship. David’s plea for God to "cut off" and "destroy" his adversaries is intense, reflecting the overwhelming nature of his persecution. These strong verbs reveal a desire for decisive divine action, not mere escape, but the eradication of the very source of his anguish. Crucially, the appeal is grounded not in David’s worthiness, but "of Your mercy" (chesed), God’s covenantal loyalty. This attributes salvation entirely to God's steadfast love and faithfulness.

The declaration, "for I am Your servant," forms the powerful bedrock of the petition. This is not a proud boast but a humble affirmation of identity and allegiance. By proclaiming himself God’s servant (`eved), David reminds God of the protective and redemptive responsibility inherent in their relationship. Just as a good master protects his devoted servant, David trusts that the Almighty God will defend His loyal worshipper. This identity becomes his spiritual warrant, implying that God’s honor is intertwined with His servant's vindication. The verse thus articulates a foundational principle of biblical faith: our deepest pleas for deliverance are valid when founded upon God's unchanging nature and our surrendered relationship with Him, trusting that He will uphold His commitment to His own. This prayer spiritually foreshadows Christ's ultimate victory over the powers that afflict the soul, securing full deliverance for those who are truly His servants.