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Psalm 142

A psalm[a] of David, regarding his experience in the cave. A prayer.

I cry out to the Lord;
    I plead for the Lord’s mercy.
I pour out my complaints before him
    and tell him all my troubles.
When I am overwhelmed,
    you alone know the way I should turn.
Wherever I go,
    my enemies have set traps for me.
I look for someone to come and help me,
    but no one gives me a passing thought!
No one will help me;
    no one cares a bit what happens to me.
Then I pray to you, O Lord.
    I say, “You are my place of refuge.
    You are all I really want in life.
Hear my cry,
    for I am very low.
Rescue me from my persecutors,
    for they are too strong for me.
Bring me out of prison
    so I can thank you.
The godly will crowd around me,
    for you are good to me.”

Footnotes

  1. 142:Title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term.

A Prayer for Deliverance from Pursuers

A maskil of David.

When he was in the cave. A prayer.[a]

142 I cry out with my voice to Yahweh;
I implore favor with my voice to Yahweh.
I pour out my complaint before him;
I declare my trouble before him.
When my spirit faints within me,
you know my way.
On the path where I walk,
they have hidden a trap for me;
look to my right and see.
There is no one looking out for me;
there is no escape for me;[b]
no one cares for my soul.[c]
I cry out to you, O Yahweh.
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”
Attend to my cry,
for I am brought very low.
Deliver me from my pursuers,
for they are stronger than I.
Bring me[d] out of prison,
that I may give thanks to your name.
The righteous will encircle me,
because you will deal bountifully with me.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 142:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
  2. Psalm 142:4 Hebrew “a refuge has perished from me”
  3. Psalm 142:4 Or “life”
  4. Psalm 142:7 Hebrew “my soul”