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142 Hear, O Lord, my prayer: give ear to my supplication in thy truth: hear me in thy justice.

And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight no man living shall be justified.

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul: he hath brought down my life to the earth. He hath made me to dwell in darkness as those that have been dead of old:

And my spirit is in anguish within me: my heart within me is troubled.

I remembered the days of old, I meditated on all thy works: I meditated upon the works of thy hands.

I stretched forth my hands to thee: my soul is as earth without water unto thee.

Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit hath fainted away. Turn not away thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

Cause me to hear thy mercy in the morning; for in thee have I hoped. Make the way known to me, wherein I should walk: for I have lifted up my soul to thee.

Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, to thee have I fled:

10 Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God. Thy good spirit shall lead me into the right land:

11 For thy name's sake, O Lord, thou wilt quicken me in thy justice. Thou wilt bring my soul out of trouble:

12 And in thy mercy thou wilt destroy my enemies. And thou wilt cut off all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

142 I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.

I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.

I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

(A)A Prayer for Help[a]

142 I call to the Lord for help;
    I plead with him.
I bring him all my complaints;
    I tell him all my troubles.
When I am ready to give up,
    he knows what I should do.
In the path where I walk,
    my enemies have hidden a trap for me.
When I look beside me,
    I see that there is no one to help me,
    no one to protect me.
No one cares for me.

Lord, I cry to you for help;
    you, Lord, are my protector;
    you are all I want in this life.
Listen to my cry for help,
    for I am sunk in despair.
Save me from my enemies;
    they are too strong for me.
Set me free from my distress;[b]
    then in the assembly of your people I will praise you
    because of your goodness to me.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 142:1 HEBREW TITLE: A poem by David, when he was in the cave; a prayer.
  2. Psalm 142:7 distress; or prison.