Psalm 142-143
New American Standard Bible
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.
2 I (C)pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare my (D)trouble before Him.
3 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.
4 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.
5 I cried out to You, Lord;
I said, “You are (J)my refuge,
My (K)portion in the (L)land of the living.
6 (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.
7 (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.”
Prayer for Help and Guidance.
A Psalm of David.
143 Hear my prayer, Lord,
(R)Listen to my pleadings!
Answer me in Your (S)faithfulness, in Your (T)righteousness!
2 And (U)do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For (V)no person living is righteous in Your sight.
3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life (W)to the ground;
He (X)has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead.
4 Therefore (Y)my spirit [d]feels weak within me;
My heart is [e](Z)appalled within me.
5 I (AA)remember the days of old;
I (AB)meditate on all Your accomplishments;
I (AC)reflect on the work of Your hands.
6 I (AD)spread out my hands to You;
My (AE)soul longs for You, like a weary land. Selah
7 (AF)Answer me quickly, Lord, my (AG)spirit fails;
(AH)Do not hide Your face from me,
Or I will be the same as (AI)those who go down to the pit.
8 Let me hear Your (AJ)faithfulness (AK)in the morning,
For I trust (AL)in You;
Teach me the (AM)way in which I should walk;
For to You I (AN)lift up my soul.
9 (AO)Save me, Lord, from my enemies;
[f]I take refuge in You.
10 (AP)Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Let (AQ)Your good Spirit (AR)lead me on level [g]ground.
11 (AS)For the sake of Your name, Lord, (AT)revive me.
(AU)In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.
12 And in Your faithfulness, [h](AV)destroy my enemies,
And (AW)eliminate all those who attack my soul,
For (AX)I am Your servant.
Footnotes
- Psalm 142 Title Possibly Contemplative; or Didactic; or Skillful Psalm
- Psalm 142 Title 1 Sam 22:1; 24:3
- Psalm 142:4 Lit Escape has perished from me
- Psalm 143:4 Or faints within
- Psalm 143:4 Or desolate
- Psalm 143:9 Lit To You have I hidden
- Psalm 143:10 Lit land
- Psalm 143:12 Or silence
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.