Add parallel Print Page Options

A Prayer for Safety

A maskil of David when he was in the cave. A prayer.

142 I cry out to the Lord;
    I pray to the Lord for mercy.
I pour out my problems to him;
    I tell him my troubles.
When I am afraid,
    you, Lord, know the way out.
In the path where I walk,
    a trap is hidden for me.
Look around me and see.
    No one cares about me.
I have no place of safety;
    no one cares if I live.

Lord, I cry out to you.
    I say, “You are my protection.
    You are all I want in this life.”
Listen to my cry,
    because I am helpless.
Save me from those who are chasing me,
    because they are too strong for me.
Free me from my prison,
    and then I will praise your name.
Then good people will surround me,
    because you have taken care of me.

Psalm 142

A maskil[a] of David, when he was in the cave. A prayer.

142 I cry out loud for help from the Lord.
    I beg out loud for mercy from the Lord.
I pour out my concerns before God;
    I announce my distress to him.
When my spirit is weak inside me, you still know my way.
    But they’ve hidden a trap for me in the path I’m taking.
Look right beside me: See?
    No one pays attention to me.
There’s no escape for me.
    No one cares about my life.

I cry to you, Lord, for help.
    “You are my refuge,” I say.
    “You are all I have in the land of the living.”
Pay close attention to my shouting,
    because I’ve been brought down so low!
Deliver me from my oppressors
    because they’re stronger than me.
Get me out of this prison
    so I can give thanks to your name.
Then the righteous will gather all around me
    because of your good deeds to me.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 142:1 Perhaps instruction