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A Prayer for Safety

A maskil of David when he was in the cave. A prayer.

142 I cry out to the Lord.
    I pray to the Lord for mercy.
I pour out my problems to him.
    I tell him my troubles.
When I am afraid,
    you, Lord, know the way out.
In the path where I walk,
    a trap is hidden for me.
Look around me and see.
    No one cares about me.
I have no place of safety.
    No one cares if I live.

Lord, I cry out to you.
    I say, “You are my protection.
    You are all I want in this life.”
Listen to my cry
    because I am helpless.
Save me from those who are chasing me.
    They are too strong for me.
Free me from my prison.
    Then I will praise your name.
Then the good people will surround me
    because you have taken care of me.

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

David at Adullam and Mizpah

22 David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. His brothers and other relatives heard that he was there. And they went to see him. Many people joined David. All those who were in trouble, who owed money or who were unsatisfied gathered around him. And he became their leader. He had about 400 men with him.

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David at Adullam and Mizpah

22 David left Gath and escaped to the cave(A) of Adullam.(B) When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered(C) around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.

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