Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you. New Living Translation Don’t put your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before you. English Standard Version Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. Berean Standard Bible Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You. King James Bible And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. New King James Version Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no one living is righteous. New American Standard Bible And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For no person living is righteous in Your sight. NASB 1995 And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no man living is righteous. NASB 1977 And do not enter into judgment with Thy servant, For in Thy sight no man living is righteous. Legacy Standard Bible And do not enter into judgment with Your slave, For no one living is righteous in Your sight. Amplified Bible And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no man living is righteous or justified. Christian Standard Bible Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous in your sight. Holman Christian Standard Bible Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous in Your sight. American Standard Version And enter not into judgment with thy servant; For in thy sight no man living is righteous. Contemporary English Version I am your servant. Don't try me in your court, because no one is innocent by your standards. English Revised Version And enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. GOD'S WORD® Translation Do not take me to court for judgment, because there is no one alive who is righteous in your presence. Good News Translation Don't put me, your servant, on trial; no one is innocent in your sight. International Standard Version Do not enter into judgment with your servant, for no living person is righteous in your sight. NET Bible Do not sit in judgment on your servant, for no one alive is innocent before you. New Heart English Bible Do not enter into judgment with your servant, for in your sight no man living is righteous. Webster's Bible Translation And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleDo not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You. World English Bible Don’t enter into judgment with your servant, for in your sight no man living is righteous. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd do not enter into judgment with Your servant, "" For no one living is justified before You. Young's Literal Translation And enter not into judgment with Thy servant, For no one living is justified before Thee. Smith's Literal Translation And thou wilt not come into judgment with thy servant, for all living shall not be justified before thee. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight no man living shall be justified. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible Do not enter into judgment with your servant; before you no one can be just. New Revised Standard Version Do not enter into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd do not let thy servant be brought to judgment; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Do not bring your Servant to judgment, because no one who lives is innocent before you. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And enter not into judgment with Thy servant; For in Thy sight shall no man living be justified. Brenton Septuagint Translation And enter not into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context I Stretch Out My Hands to You1A Psalm of David. O LORD, hear my prayer. In Your faithfulness, give ear to my plea; in Your righteousness, answer me. 2Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You. 3For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead.… Cross References Romans 3:20 Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin. Galatians 2:16 know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. James 2:10 Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. Romans 7:18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. Romans 8:3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh, Philippians 3:9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith. Isaiah 64:6 Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. Job 9:2-3 “Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God? / If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand. Job 14:4 Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one! Job 15:14-16 What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous? / If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes, / how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water? Ecclesiastes 7:20 Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. Romans 4:15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression. Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned. Treasury of Scripture And enter not into judgment with your servant: for in your sight shall no man living be justified. enter not Psalm 130:3 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? Job 14:3 And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? in thy sight Exodus 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. Job 4:17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? Job 9:2,3 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? … Jump to Previous Enter Eyes Judged Judgment Justified Righteous Servant Sight UprightJump to Next Enter Eyes Judged Judgment Justified Righteous Servant Sight UprightPsalm 143 1. David prays for favor in judgment3. He complains of his grief 5. He strengthens his faith by meditation and prayer 7. He prays for grace 9. For deliverance 10. For sanctification 12. For destruction of his enemies Do not bring Your servant into judgment This phrase reflects a plea for mercy and acknowledges the psalmist's position as a servant before God. In biblical context, judgment often refers to God's righteous assessment of human actions. The psalmist, traditionally understood to be David, is aware of his own shortcomings and seeks God's grace rather than His justice. This plea is consistent with the understanding that humans, due to their sinful nature, cannot stand justified before a holy God without His mercy. The concept of God as a judge is prevalent throughout the Old Testament, seen in passages like Genesis 18:25, where Abraham refers to God as the Judge of all the earth. for no one alive is righteous before You Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe author of Psalm 143, David is expressing his deep sense of humility and recognition of human fallibility before God. He is often seen as a man after God's own heart, yet he acknowledges his own sinfulness. 2. God The ultimate judge and the one whom David is addressing. God is portrayed as righteous and just, highlighting the contrast between divine perfection and human imperfection. 3. Servant Refers to David himself, but by extension, it can apply to any believer who seeks to serve God. The term emphasizes humility and submission to God's authority. Teaching Points Recognition of Human SinfulnessAcknowledge that, like David, we are all imperfect and fall short of God's standards. This recognition is the first step toward seeking God's grace and forgiveness. Dependence on God's Mercy Understand that our hope lies not in our own righteousness but in God's mercy. We must continually seek His grace and forgiveness. Humility in Prayer Approach God with humility, recognizing our position as His servants. This attitude should permeate our prayers and our daily walk with Him. The Role of Confession Regular confession of sins is crucial for maintaining a right relationship with God. It aligns with the biblical teaching that God is faithful to forgive those who confess. Living Righteously by Faith While no one is righteous on their own, believers are called to live by faith, trusting in Christ's righteousness imputed to them. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Psalm 143:2?2. How does Psalm 143:2 emphasize our need for God's mercy and forgiveness? 3. What does "no one living is righteous" reveal about human nature and sin? 4. How can Romans 3:23 help us understand Psalm 143:2's message on righteousness? 5. In what ways can acknowledging our unrighteousness deepen our relationship with God? 6. How should Psalm 143:2 influence our daily prayers and repentance practices? 7. How does Psalm 143:2 challenge the belief in human righteousness before God? 8. Why does Psalm 143:2 emphasize God's judgment over human actions? 9. What historical context influenced the message of Psalm 143:2? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 143? 11. Psalm 143:2 states no one living is righteous; how does this align with passages naming certain individuals as righteous elsewhere in the Bible? 12. What does the Bible say about justification? 13. How does Galatians 3:10 align with Old Testament teachings that emphasize the fullness of the Law as God’s command, not a curse? 14. In Romans 4:6-8, does the idea of sin not being counted against believers conflict with other biblical passages that emphasize judgment and accountability? What Does Psalm 143:2 Mean Do not bring Your servant into judgment“Do not bring Your servant into judgment” (Psalm 143:2) is David’s plea for mercy. • David speaks as “Your servant,” acknowledging God’s rightful authority over him (Psalm 86:2). • He asks not to be hauled into court, knowing that divine judgment is flawless and exhaustive (Psalm 130:3). • This appeal echoes earlier cries, such as, “Remember not the sins of my youth” (Psalm 25:7), showing that even believers depend on grace rather than personal merit. • The line anticipates the New Testament assurance that those in Christ escape condemnation (John 5:24; Romans 8:1), yet it does so from the vantage point of Old Covenant faith, looking forward to ultimate redemption (Isaiah 53:5-6). • The posture is humble; David does not bargain or minimize sin. He simply turns to the Lord who is “abounding in faithful love” (Exodus 34:6-7), trusting mercy over retribution. for no one alive is righteous before You “for no one alive is righteous before You” (Psalm 143:2) supplies the reason for David’s request. • Universality of sin: “no one alive” echoes “There is no one who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:3; Romans 3:10-12). • God’s standard: “before You” stresses that righteousness is measured by God’s holiness, not human comparison (Isaiah 6:5; 1 Peter 1:15-16). • Self-awareness: David includes himself among the unrighteous (1 Kings 8:46). His royal status offers no exemption. • Gospel trajectory: By admitting universal guilt, the psalm prepares hearts for the need of a Mediator (Galatians 3:22). Christ fulfills this gap, becoming “our righteousness” (1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21). • Practical takeaway: Any approach to God begins with confession and dependence, never self-justification (Luke 18:13-14). summary David’s two-part plea—“Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You”—teaches that even the most devoted believer relies entirely on God’s mercy. Recognizing universal sinfulness drives the humble soul away from self-defense and toward the Redeemer who alone provides righteousness. (2) And enter not.--The Divine justice has just been invoked, and now the appellant suddenly seems to deprecate it. These verses really sum up the apparent paradox of the Book of Job, as also the expressions recall that Book. (See Job 4:17; Job 9:2; Job 9:32; Job 14:3, seq., Job 15:14; Job 22:4, &c) In one breath Job frequently pours forth pathetic protestations of his innocence, and dread lest God should take him at his word and arraign him for trial. Man, in his desire to have his character vindicated before man, appeals to the just Judge, but instantly falls back with a guilty sense that before that tribunal none can stand: . . . Verse 2. - And enter not into judgment with thy servant. The psalmist, having touched the point of abstract justice, shrinks from pressing it. He knows that he is not "righteous before God," and that his life and conduct "cannot endure the severity of God's judgment" (Art. XII.). He therefore "deprecates a strictly retributive treatment" (Cheyne). For in thy sight shall no man living be justified (comp. Psalm 130:3; and see also Job 4:17-19; Job 9:2; Job 15:14; Job 25:4).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Do notוְאַל־ (wə·’al-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb Strong's 408: Not bring תָּב֣וֹא (tā·ḇō·w) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go Your servant עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ (‘aḇ·de·ḵā) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant into judgment, בְ֭מִשְׁפָּט (ḇə·miš·pāṭ) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style for כִּ֤י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction no one לֹֽא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no alive חָֽי׃ (ḥāy) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life is righteous יִצְדַּ֖ק (yiṣ·daq) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6663: To be just or righteous before You. לְפָנֶ֣יךָ (lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā) Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 6440: The face Links Psalm 143:2 NIVPsalm 143:2 NLT Psalm 143:2 ESV Psalm 143:2 NASB Psalm 143:2 KJV Psalm 143:2 BibleApps.com Psalm 143:2 Biblia Paralela Psalm 143:2 Chinese Bible Psalm 143:2 French Bible Psalm 143:2 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Psalm 143:2 Don't enter into judgment with your servant (Psalm Ps Psa.) |