Prayer for Help in Trouble.

[a]Maskil of David, when he was [b]in the cave. A Prayer.

142 I (A)cry out with my voice to the Lord;
With my voice I (B)implore the Lord for compassion.
I (C)pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare my (D)trouble before Him.
When (E)my spirit felt weak within me,
You knew my path.
In the way where I walk
They have (F)hidden a trap for me.
Look to the right and see;
For there is (G)no one who regards me favorably;
[c]There is no (H)escape for me;
(I)No one cares for my soul.

I cried out to You, Lord;
I said, “You are (J)my refuge,
My (K)portion in the (L)land of the living.
(M)Give Your attention to my cry,
For I have been (N)brought very low;
Rescue me from my persecutors,
For they are too (O)strong for me.
(P)Bring my soul out of prison,
So that I may give thanks to Your name;
The righteous will surround me,
For You will (Q)look after me.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 142 Title Possibly Contemplative; or Didactic; or Skillful Psalm
  2. Psalm 142 Title 1 Sam 22:1; 24:3
  3. Psalm 142:4 Lit Escape has perished from me

Psalm 142

Prayer for Deliverance from Persecutors

A Maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A Prayer.

With my voice I cry to the Lord;
    with my voice I make supplication to the Lord.(A)
I pour out my complaint before him;
    I tell my trouble before him.(B)
When my spirit is faint,
    you know my way.

In the path where I walk,
    they have hidden a trap for me.(C)
Look on my right hand and see:
    there is no one who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
    no one cares for me.(D)

I cry to you, O Lord;
    I say, “You are my refuge,
    my portion in the land of the living.”(E)
Listen to my cry,
    for I am brought very low.

Save me from my persecutors,
    for they are too strong for me.(F)
Bring me out of prison,
    so that I may give thanks to your name.
The righteous will surround me,
    for you will deal bountifully with me.(G)