For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
English Standard Version (ESV)
David isn't just asking God for a quick fix; he's pleading that God's very character and reputation be the reason for his deliverance. He asks God to "quicken" him (give him new life) and bring his soul out of trouble, not because David is so deserving, but for the sake of God's own glorious name and his righteous nature. This shows a deep understanding that God's actions often reveal who He truly is to the world.
For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Psalmist is in deep distress, feeling overwhelmed by enemies and trouble. He begins by recounting his desperate situation and pleading for God's intervention, asking to be led in the right way. This verse emerges from that cry for help, as David looks to God's character and promises for assurance of deliverance.
When you feel utterly depleted, spiritually or emotionally, where do you turn? David points to God's very character as the source of life.
In this verse, David cries out, "Quicken me, O LORD." The word "quicken" here means to make alive, to revive, to restore. David feels spiritually dead or dying, his strength gone. He's not asking for a general boost but a profound resuscitation.
He bases this desperate plea on "your name's sake." This isn't about God needing David to survive. Instead, it's about God's reputation and character. God's name represents who He is – His attributes, His promises, His covenant faithfulness. For David, God's very being is a reason for Him to act. To let a faithful servant perish would, in some sense, dishonor His own glorious name. It's like saying, 'God, if you don't bring me back to life, people won't see the full picture of who you are – your power to restore, your faithfulness to those who call on you.'
We often think of righteousness as something we need to achieve. But here, David looks to God's own righteousness as the basis for his rescue.
David's second plea is, "In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble." This is profound. He's not saying, 'Because I have been righteous, bring me out,' nor is he asking God to become righteous. God already is righteousness itself.
His righteousness isn't just about cosmic justice; it's about His faithfulness to His promises and His covenant with His people. When God acts in His righteousness, He is acting consistently with His own holy nature and His declared intentions. It means He will uphold what is right, He will vindicate His people, and He will defeat injustice.
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David is essentially asking God to act according to His own perfect standard. If God is righteous, He cannot ultimately leave His servants in distress. His nature compels Him to bring His people out of trouble, demonstrating His justice and His love. It's an appeal to God's inherent goodness and His commitment to His own people.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal name of God, YHWH, which signifies His self-existence, covenant faithfulness, and holiness. It represents the fullness of His character and His reputation among humanity.
tsedaqah · Hebrew Noun
The manifestation of God's perfect justice, moral integrity, and faithfulness to His own character and promises. It is the standard by which God acts to vindicate the righteous and judge the wicked.
nephesh · Hebrew Noun
The inner life, breath, or personhood of an individual. In biblical usage, it encompasses the entire self, including emotions, desires, and the eternal spiritual component of a human being.
This psalm rings with the raw emotion of King David during his desperate flight from his rebellious son, Absalom. The plea to be 'quickened' and brought 'out of trouble' isn't just about physical survival; it's about spiritual revival and vindication, deeply tied to the reputation and character of God himself.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
David flees Absalom's rebellion
David, the King of Israel, is forced to flee Jerusalem as his own son, Absalom, leads a rebellion against him, plunging the kingdom into civil war.
c. 1000 BC
David's exile and pursuit
David and his loyal followers are pursued by Absalom's forces, experiencing deep distress, fear, and uncertainty about their future and the fate of the kingdom.
c. 1000 BC
Battle of the Forest of Ephraim
The decisive battle where Absalom's forces are defeated by David's army, tragically resulting in Absalom's death and the end of the rebellion.
c. 970 BC
David's death and Solomon's reign
David dies after a long reign, leaving a legacy of both great triumphs and personal failings, and his son Solomon succeeds him, ushering in a period of peace and prosperity.
This passage echoes the plea for God to 'restore my soul' (which is similar to 'quicken me' and 'bring my soul out of trouble') for the sake of His name, highlighting the deep connection between God's character and His care for His people.
Psalm 119:25Here, the psalmist cries 'my soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!' This parallel emphasizes the desperate need for spiritual revival and sustenance, directly linking it to God's promises and His Word.
Isaiah 43:25This verse states, 'I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.' This connects God's forgiveness and action on behalf of His people directly to Himself, much like the plea in Psalm 143:11 to act 'for your name's sake.'
Romans 8:11The Apostle Paul speaks of the Spirit who 'raised Jesus from the dead' now dwelling in believers, promising to give life to their mortal bodies. This echoes the idea of being 'quickened' and brought out of trouble through divine, life-giving power.
ellicottPsalms 143:11: "Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble."
(11, 12) The last two verses are made of reminiscences of former psalm experiences. The verbs should be in the future, not the imperative. For thy name’s sake.—Comp. Psalm 23:3, &c. (11) Quicken me, O Lord.—Comp. Psalm 138:7 and Psalms 119 frequently. Out of trouble.—Comp. Psalm 34:17; Psalm 142:7.
pulpitPsalms 143:11: "Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble."
Verse 11. - Quicken me, O Lord, for thy Name's sake; i.e. give me fresh spiritual life (setup. Psalm 119:25, 37, 50, 88, 93, etc.). For thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. To show how righteous thou art, i.e. how good and gracious.
David isn't just asking God for a quick fix; he's pleading that God's very character and reputation be the reason for his deliverance. He asks God to "quicken" him (give him new life) and bring his soul out of trouble, not because David is so deserving, but for the sake of God's own glorious name and his righteous nature. This shows a deep understanding that God's actions often reveal who He truly is to the world.
The Psalmist is in deep distress, feeling overwhelmed by enemies and trouble. He begins by recounting his desperate situation and pleading for God's intervention, asking to be led in the right way. This verse emerges from that cry for help, as David looks to God's character and promises for assurance of deliverance.
The Psalmist is in deep distress, feeling overwhelmed by enemies and trouble. He begins by recounting his desperate situation and pleading for God's intervention, asking to be led in the right way. This verse emerges from that cry for help, as David looks to God's character and promises for assurance of deliverance.
"For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!" — David isn't just asking God for a quick fix; he's pleading that God's very character and reputation be the reason for his deliverance. He asks God to "quicken" him (give him new life) and bring his s…
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Last reviewed October 2026