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

142 (Mashkil of Dovid; A tefillah when he was in the me’arah) I cried out unto Hashem with my voice; with my voice unto Hashem did I make my techinnah (supplication).

(3) I poured out my complaint before Him; I showed before Him my tzoros.

(4) When my ruach became faint within me, then Thou had da’as of my path. In the way wherein I walked have they laid a pach (snare, hidden trap) for me.

(5) I looked on my right, and behold, there was no man that would know me; refuge failed me; no man cared for my nefesh.

(6) I cried unto Thee, Hashem; I said, Thou art my refuge and my chelek (portion) in the Eretz HaChayyim.

(7) Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low; save me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

(8) Release my nefesh from prison, to praise Shemecha (Thy Name); the tzaddikim shall gather about me; for Thou shalt deal bountifully with me.