Psalms 142
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I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.
2 I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.
3 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.
4 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.
5 I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
6 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
7 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.
Public Domain KJV text from Wordproject.org
Psalm 142:1-7
You Are My Refuge
A Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer.
1With my voice I cry out to the Lord;
with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord.
2I pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him.
3When my spirit faints within me,
you know my way!
In the path where I walk
they have hidden a trap for me.
4Look to the right and see:
there is none who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
no one cares for my soul.
5I cry to you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”
6Attend to my cry,
for I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me!
7Bring me out of prison,
that I may give thanks to your name!
The righteous will surround me,
for you will deal bountifully with me.
ESV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Psalm 142:1-7
Psalm 142
A maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer.
1I cry aloud to the Lord;
I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.
2I pour out before him my complaint;
before him I tell my trouble.
3When my spirit grows faint within me,
it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
people have hidden a snare for me.
4Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
no one cares for my life.
5I cry to you, Lord;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”
6Listen to my cry,
for I am in desperate need;
rescue me from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong for me.
7Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me.
NIV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Commentary
Do you cry out to God sometimes in the night? I do. In Psalm 142, David felt overwhelmed by his circumstances and felt like he had no one to turn to who understood. He called out to God for help, pouring out his heart and soul to him.
In his prayer, David expressed his loneliness and his fears, but also his trust in God. Surrounded by enemies, David believed that God knew everything about his situation and that He would never abandon him. He asked God to deliver him from his enemies and even to surround him with righteous people. We are not alone in our struggles. God has a community of people who love and support us. Choose to find strength and comfort in relationships with other believers.
David believed that God knew his path, even when David couldn’t see the way forward. God still knows our path! Psalm 142 is a reminder that as we come to God in prayer, we will find Him to be our refuge and our strength. He knows everything that has happened to hurt, frighten, or confuse us, and we can trust our powerful Warrior who fights for His people.
Cindy Tutsch
Believe His Prophets Blog Editor (as of this writing)
