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A Prayer for Safety

A ·maskil [skillful psalm; meditation] of David when he was in the cave [C at Adullam (1 Sam. 22:1, 4) or En-Gedi (1 Sam. 24:1–22)]. A prayer.

142 I cry out to the Lord;
    I ·pray [cry out] to the Lord for ·mercy [grace].
I pour out my ·problems [complaint] to him;
    I tell him my ·troubles [distress].
When ·I am afraid [I am depressed; L my spirit is faint],
    you, Lord, know ·the way out [L my way].
In the path where I walk,
    ·a trap is hidden [L they have hidden a trap] for me.
Look ·around me [L at/on my right hand] and see.
    No one cares about me.
·I have no place of safety [L A place of refuge perishes from me];
    no one ·cares if I live [L seeks for my soul].

Lord, I cry out to you.
    I say, “You are my ·protection [refuge].
    ·You are all I want in this life [L …my portion in the land of the living].”
·Listen [Pay attention] to my cry,
    because I am ·helpless [brought very low].
·Save [Protect] me from those who are ·chasing [pursuing; persecuting] me,
    because they are too strong for me.
·Free me [L Bring me out] from my prison,
    and then I will ·praise [thank] your name.
Then ·good [righteous] people will surround me,
    because you have ·taken care of me [given me my reward].

Prayer for Help in Trouble.

A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem, of David; when he was in the cave. A Prayer.

142 I cry aloud with my voice to the Lord;
I make supplication with my voice to the Lord.

I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare my trouble before Him.

When my spirit was overwhelmed and weak within me [wrapped in darkness],
You knew my path.
In the way where I walk
They have hidden a trap for me.

Look to the right [the point of attack] and see;
For there is no one who has regard for me [to act in my favor].
Escape has failed me and I have nowhere to run;
No one cares about my life.


I cried out to You, O Lord;
I said, “You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living.

“Give attention to my cry,
For I am brought very low;
Rescue me from my persecutors,
For they are stronger than I.

“Bring my soul out of prison (adversity),
So that I may give thanks and praise Your name;
The righteous will surround me [in triumph],
For You will look after me.”

David at Adullam and Mizpah

22 David ·left Gath [L went from there] and ·escaped to [took refuge in] the cave of Adullam [C in the lowlands of Judah, southwest of Jerusalem]. When his brothers and ·other relatives [L his father’s household] heard that he was there, they went to ·see him [join him; L him]. Everyone who was in ·trouble [distress], or ·who owed money [in debt], or who was ·unsatisfied [discontented; had a grievance] gathered around David, and he became their ·leader [captain; commander]. About four hundred men were with him.

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The Priests Slain at Nob

22 So David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; and when his brothers and all his father’s house heard about it, they went down there to him. Everyone who was suffering hardship, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them. There were about four hundred men with him.

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