Psalm 142–144

Psalm 142

A Plea for Relief from Persecutors

A aContemplation 1Of David. A Prayer bWhen He Was in the Cave.

1 I cry out to the Lord with my voice;

With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication.

2 I pour out my complaint before Him;

I declare before Him my trouble.

3 When my spirit 2was coverwhelmed within me,

Then You knew my path.

In the way in which I walk

They have secretly dset a snare for me.

4 Look on my right hand and see,

For there is no one who acknowledges me;

Refuge has failed me;

No one cares for my soul.

5 I cried out to You, O Lord:

I said, “You are my refuge,

My portion in the land of the living.

6 3Attend to 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 epraise Your name;

The righteous shall surround me,

For You shall deal bountifully with me.”

Psalm 143

An Earnest Appeal for Guidance and Deliverance

A Psalm of David.

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord,

Give ear to my supplications!

In Your faithfulness answer me,

And in Your righteousness.

2 Do not enter into judgment with Your servant,

aFor in Your sight no one living is righteous.

3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul;

He has crushed my life to the ground;

He has made me dwell in 1darkness,

Like those who have long been dead.

4 bTherefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;

My heart within me is distressed.

5 cI remember the days of old;

I meditate on all Your works;

I 2muse on the work of Your hands.

6 I spread out my hands to You;

dMy soul longs for You like a thirsty land.

Selah

7 Answer me speedily, O Lord;

My spirit fails!

Do not hide Your face from me,

eLest I 3be like those who 4go down into the pit.

8 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness fin the morning,

For in You do I trust;

gCause me to know the way in which I should walk,

For hI lift up my soul to You.

9 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;

5In You I take shelter.

10 iTeach me to do Your will,

For You are my God;

jYour Spirit is good.

Lead me in kthe land of uprightness.

11 lRevive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake!

For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

12 In Your mercy mcut 6off my enemies,

And destroy all those who afflict my soul;

For I am Your servant.

Psalm 144

A Song to the Lord Who Preserves and Prospers His People

A Psalm of David.

1 Blessed be the Lord my Rock, aWho trains my hands for war,

And my fingers for battle—

2 My lovingkindness and my fortress,

My high tower and my deliverer,

My shield and the One in whom I take refuge,

Who subdues 1my people under me.

3 bLord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?

Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?

4 cMan is like a breath;

dHis days are like a passing shadow.

5 eBow down Your heavens, O Lord, and come down;

fTouch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

6 gFlash forth lightning and scatter them;

Shoot out Your arrows and destroy them.

7 Stretch out Your hand from above;

Rescue me and deliver me out of great waters,

From the hand of foreigners,

8 Whose mouth hspeaks 2lying words,

And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

9 I will ising a new song to You, O God;

On a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,

10 The One who gives 3salvation to kings,

jWho delivers David His servant

From the deadly sword.

11 Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners,

Whose mouth speaks lying words,

And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood—

12 That our sons may be kas plants grown up in their youth;

That our daughters may be as 4pillars,

Sculptured in palace style;

13 That our barns may be full,

Supplying all kinds of produce;

That our sheep may bring forth thousands

And ten thousands in our fields;

14 That our oxen may be well laden;

That there be no 5breaking in or going out;

That there be no outcry in our streets.

15 lHappy are the people who are in such a state;

Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!