Psalm 142–143

Psalm 142

A CRY OF DISTRESS

A Maskil of David. When he was in the cave.^ac A prayer.

¹I cry aloud to the Lord;^ad

I plead aloud to the Lord for mercy.^ae

²I pour out my complaint before him;

I reveal my trouble to him.^af

³Although my spirit is weak within me,

you know my way.^a

Along this path I travel

they have hidden a trap for me.^b

⁴Look to the right and see:^A

no one stands up for me;

there is no refuge for me;

no one cares about me.^c

⁵I cry to you, Lord;

I say, “You are my shelter,

my portion in the land of the living.”^d

⁶Listen to my cry,

for I am very weak.^e

Rescue me from those who pursue me,

for they are too strong for me.^f

⁷Free me from prison

so that I can praise your name.

The righteous will gather around me

because you deal generously with me.^g

Psalm 143

A CRY FOR HELP

A psalm of David.

¹Lord, hear my prayer.

In your faithfulness listen to my plea,

and in your righteousness answer me.^h

²Do not bring your servant into judgment,ⁱ

for no one alive is righteous in your sight.^j

³For the enemy has pursued me,

crushing me to the ground,

making me live in darkness

like those long dead.^k

⁴My spirit is weak within me;

my heart is overcome with dismay.^l

⁵I remember the days of old;

I meditate on all you have done;

I reflect on the work of your hands.^m

⁶I spread out my hands to you;

I am like parched land before you.ⁿ

Selah

⁷Answer me quickly, Lord;

my spirit fails.^o

Don’t hide your face from me,

or I will be like those

going down to the Pit.^p

⁸Let me experience

your faithful love in the morning,

for I trust in you.^q

Reveal to me the way I should go

because I appeal to you.^r

⁹Rescue me from my enemies, Lord;

I come to you for protection.^Bs

¹⁰Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God.^t

May your gracious Spirit

lead me on level ground.^u

¹¹For your name’s sake, Lord,

let me live.

In your righteousness deliver me from trouble,^v

¹²and in your faithful love destroy my enemies.

Wipe out all those who attack me,

for I am your servant.^w