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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]

A maskil[b] of David. When he was in the cave.(A) A prayer.

I cry aloud(B) to the Lord;
    I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.(C)
I pour out before him my complaint;(D)
    before him I tell my trouble.(E)

When my spirit grows faint(F) within me,
    it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
    people have hidden a snare for me.
Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
    no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;(G)
    no one cares(H) for my life.

I cry to you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my refuge,(I)
    my portion(J) in the land of the living.”(K)

Listen to my cry,(L)
    for I am in desperate need;(M)
rescue me(N) from those who pursue me,
    for they are too strong(O) for me.
Set me free from my prison,(P)
    that I may praise your name.(Q)
Then the righteous will gather about me
    because of your goodness to me.(R)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 142:1 In Hebrew texts 142:1-7 is numbered 142:2-8.
  2. Psalm 142:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term