For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.
- KJV 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.
- NKJV 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.
- NASB 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.
- NLT My enemy has chased me. He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The enemy pursues and crushes David's life, leaving him in darkness like the long dead. It describes the depth of his oppression and despair.
Overview
David vividly portrays his suffering: hunted, struck down, and dwelling in darkness as if already in the grave. This pictures the soul-crushing weight of persecution. The righteous Sufferer Jesus likewise descended into death's darkness, emerging in resurrection to bring His people from darkness to light (Colossians 1:13).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Lam 3:6He has made me dwell in darkness like those dead for ages.
- Ps 7:1–2A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite. O LORD my God, I take refuge in You; save me and deliver me from all my pursuers,
- Ps 7:5then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust. Selah
- 2 Sam 2:22Once again, Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I show my face to your brother Joab?”
- Ps 142:6Listen to my cry, for I am brought quite low. Rescue me from my pursuers, for they are too strong for me.
- Ps 17:9–13from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.
- Ps 88:4–6I am counted among those descending to the Pit. I am like a man without strength.
- Ps 54:3For strangers rise up against me, and ruthless men seek my life—men with no regard for God. Selah
- Ps 35:4May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.
- 2 Sam 18:11“You just saw him!” Joab exclaimed. “Why did you not strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a warrior’s belt!”
- Ps 31:12–13I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind. I am like a broken vessel.
- Ezek 37:11Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Look, they are saying, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished; we are cut off.’
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 143:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.