Logos Bible Study

Psalm 142:title–7

The NET BibleOther versions

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A well-written song20 by David, when he was in the cave;21 a prayer.

142:1To the Lord I cry out;1

to the Lord I plead for mercy.2

142:2I pour out my lament before him;

I tell him about3 my troubles.

142:3Even when my strength leaves me,4

you watch my footsteps.5

In the path where I walk

they have hidden a trap for me.

142:4Look to the right and see!

No one cares about me.6

I have nowhere to run;7

no one is concerned about my life.8

142:5I cry out to you, O Lord;

I say, “You are my shelter,

my security9 in the land of the living.”

142:6Listen to my cry for help,

for I am in serious trouble!10

Rescue me from those who chase me,

for they are stronger than I am.

142:7Free me11 from prison,

that I may give thanks to your name.

Because of me the godly will assemble,12

for you will vindicate me.13

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Footnotes

  1. 20 The meaning of the Hebrew term מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) is uncertain. The word is derived from a verb meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.” Various options are: “a contemplative song,” “a song imparting moral wisdom,” or “a skillful [i.e., well-written] song.” The term occurs in the superscriptions of Pss 32, 42, 44, 45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88, 89, and 142, as well as in Ps 47:7.
  2. 21 According to the superscription, David wrote this psalm while in “the cave.” This probably refers to either the incident recorded in 1 Sam 22:1 or to the one recorded in 1 Sam 24:3. See the superscription of Ps 57.
  3. 1 Heb “[with] my voice to the Lord I cry out.”
  4. 2 Heb “[with] my voice to the Lord I plead for mercy.”
  5. 3 Heb “my trouble before him I declare.”
  6. 4 Heb “my spirit grows faint.”
  7. 5 Heb “you know my path.”
  8. 6 Heb “there is no one who recognizes me.”
  9. 7 Heb “a place of refuge perishes from me.”
  10. 8 Heb “there is no one who seeks for the sake of my life.”
  11. 9 Heb “my portion.” The psalmist compares the Lord to landed property, which was foundational to economic stability in ancient Israel.
  12. 10 Heb “for I am very low.”
  13. 11 Heb “bring out my life.”
  14. 12 Or “gather around.”
  15. 13 The Hebrew idiom גָּמַל עַל (gamal ’al) means “to repay,” here in a positive sense.

The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

A Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer.

With my voice I cry out to the Lord;

with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord.

I pour out my complaint before him;

I tell my trouble before him.

When my spirit faints within me,

you know my way!

In the path where I walk

they have hidden a trap for me.

Look to the right and see:

there is none who takes notice of me;

no refuge remains to me;

no one cares for my soul.

I cry to you, O Lord;

I say, “You are my refuge,

my portion in the land of the living.”

Attend to my cry,

for I am brought very low!

Deliver me from my persecutors,

for they are too strong for me!

Bring me out of prison,

that I may give thanks to your name!

The righteous will surround me,

for you will deal bountifully with me.

Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles

NIVNew International Version (2011)

A maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer.

I cry aloud to the Lord;

I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.

I pour out before him my complaint;

before him I tell my trouble.

When 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.

Look 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.

I cry to you, Lord;

I say, “You are my refuge,

my portion in the land of the living.”

Listen to my cry,

for I am in desperate need;

rescue me from those who pursue me,

for they are too strong for me.

Set me free from my prison,

that I may praise your name.

Then the righteous will gather about me

because of your goodness to me.

Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

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

I cry aloud to the Lord;

I plead aloud to the Lord for mercy.

I pour out my complaint before him;

I reveal my trouble to him.

Although my spirit is weak within me,

you know my way.

Along this path I travel

they have hidden a trap for me.

Look to the right and see:

no one stands up for me;

there is no refuge for me;

no one cares about me.

I cry to you, Lord;

I say, “You are my shelter,

my portion in the land of the living.”

Listen to my cry,

for I am very weak.

Rescue me from those who pursue me,

for they are too strong for me.

Free me from prison

so that I can praise your name.

The righteous will gather around me

because you deal generously with me.

Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers

NLTNew Living Translation

A psalm of David, regarding his experience in the cave. A prayer.

I cry out to the Lord;

I plead for the Lord’s mercy.

I pour out my complaints before him

and tell him all my troubles.

When I am overwhelmed,

you alone know the way I should turn.

Wherever I go,

my enemies have set traps for me.

I look for someone to come and help me,

but no one gives me a passing thought!

No one will help me;

no one cares a bit what happens to me.

Then I pray to you, O Lord.

I say, “You are my place of refuge.

You are all I really want in life.

Hear my cry,

for I am very low.

Rescue me from my persecutors,

for they are too strong for me.

Bring me out of prison

so I can thank you.

The godly will crowd around me,

for you are good to me.”

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

A maskil of David.

When he was in the cave. A prayer.

I cry out with my voice to Yahweh;

I implore favor with my voice to Yahweh.

I pour out my complaint before him;

I declare my trouble before him.

When my spirit faints within me,

you know my way.

On the path where I walk,

they have hidden a trap for me;

look to my right and see.

There is no one looking out for me;

there is no escape for me;

no one cares for my soul.

I cry out to you, O Yahweh.

I say, “You are my refuge,

my portion in the land of the living.”

Attend to my cry,

for I am brought very low.

Deliver me from my pursuers,

for they are stronger than I.

Bring me out of prison,

that I may give thanks to your name.

The righteous will encircle me,

because you will deal bountifully with me.

Copyright 2012 Lexham Press

KJV 1900King James Version

Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave.

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.

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