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A contemplation by David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer.

142 I cry with my voice to Yahweh.
    With my voice, I ask Yahweh for mercy.
I pour out my complaint before him.
    I tell him my troubles.
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
    you knew my route.
On the path in which I walk,
    they have hidden a snare for me.
Look on my right, and see;
    for there is no one who is concerned for me.
    Refuge has fled from me.
    No one cares for my soul.
I cried to you, Yahweh.
    I said, “You are my refuge,
    my portion in the land of the living.”
Listen to my cry,
    for I am in desperate need.
Deliver me from my persecutors,
    for they are too strong for me.
Bring my soul out of prison,
    that I may give thanks to your name.
The righteous will surround me,
    for you will be good to me.

A Davidic Song, when he was in the cave.[a] A prayer.

A Call to God for Help

142 My voice cries out to the Lord;
    my voice pleads for mercy to the Lord.
I pour out my complaint to him,
    telling him all of my troubles.
Though my spirit grows faint within me,
    you are aware of my path.
Wherever I go,
    they have hidden a trap for me.

I look to my right[b] and observe—
    no one is concerned about me.
There is nowhere I can go for refuge,
    and no one cares for me.

So I cry to you, Lord,
    declaring, “You are my refuge,
        my only[c] possession while I am on this earth.”[d]
Pay attention to my cry,
    for I have been brought very low.
Deliver me from my tormentors,
    for they are far too strong for me.
Break me out of this prison,
    so I can give thanks to your name.
The righteous will surround me,
    for you will deal generously with me.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 142:1 cf. 1Sam 24:3-4
  2. Psalm 142:4 So LXX and DSS 11QPsa; MT reads Look to the right
  3. Psalm 142:5 The Heb. lacks only
  4. Psalm 142:5 Lit. possession in the land of the living

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

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David at the Cave of Adullam

22 David left from there and escaped to the Cave of Adullam. His brothers and all his father’s family heard about this and went down to him there. Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was malcontent[a] gathered around him, and he became their leader. There were about 400 men with him.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 22:2 Lit. bitter of spirit