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)

Psalm 143

A psalm of David.

Lord, hear my prayer,(S)
    listen to my cry for mercy;(T)
in your faithfulness(U) and righteousness(V)
    come to my relief.
Do not bring your servant into judgment,
    for no one living is righteous(W) before you.
The enemy pursues me,
    he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in the darkness(X)
    like those long dead.(Y)
So my spirit grows faint within me;
    my heart within me is dismayed.(Z)
I remember(AA) the days of long ago;
    I meditate(AB) on all your works
    and consider what your hands have done.
I spread out my hands(AC) to you;
    I thirst for you like a parched land.[c]

Answer me quickly,(AD) Lord;
    my spirit fails.(AE)
Do not hide your face(AF) from me
    or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,(AG)
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way(AH) I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.(AI)
Rescue me(AJ) from my enemies,(AK) Lord,
    for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me(AL) to do your will,
    for you are my God;(AM)
may your good Spirit
    lead(AN) me on level ground.(AO)

11 For your name’s sake,(AP) Lord, preserve my life;(AQ)
    in your righteousness,(AR) bring me out of trouble.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;(AS)
    destroy all my foes,(AT)
    for I am your servant.(AU)

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
  3. Psalm 143:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

142 I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.

I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.

I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

143 Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.

And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

11 Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.

12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.