You Are My Refuge

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

142 With my voice I (B)cry out to the Lord;
    with my voice I (C)plead for mercy to the Lord.
I (D)pour out my complaint before him;
    I tell my trouble before him.

When my spirit (E)faints within me,
    you know my way!
In the path where I walk
    they have (F)hidden a trap for me.
(G)Look to the (H)right and see:
    (I)there is none who takes notice of me;
(J)no refuge remains to me;
    no one cares for my soul.

I cry to you, O Lord;
    I say, “You are my (K)refuge,
    my (L)portion in (M)the land of the living.”
(N)Attend to my cry,
    for (O)I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my persecutors,
    (P)for they are too strong for me!
(Q)Bring me out of prison,
    that I may give thanks to your name!
The righteous will surround me,
    for you will (R)deal bountifully with me.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 142:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term

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

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.