Psalm 142–143

PSALM 142

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

¹I cry with my voice to the Lord,

with my voice I make supplication to the Lord,

²I pour out my complaint before him,

I tell my trouble before him.

³When my spirit is faint,

thou knowest my way!

In the path where I walk

they have hidden a trap for me.

⁴I look to the right and watch,

but there is none who takes notice of me;

no refuge remains to me,

no man cares for me.

⁵I cry to thee, O Lord;

I say, Thou art my refuge,

my portion in the land of the living.

⁶Give heed 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 thy name!

The righteous will surround me;

for thou wilt deal bountifully with me.

PSALM 143

A Psalm of David.

¹Hear my prayer, O Lord;

give ear to my supplications!

In thy faithfulness answer me, in thy righteousness!

²Enter not into judgment with thy servant;

for no man living is righteous before thee.

³For the enemy has pursued me;

he has crushed my life to the ground;

he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.

⁴Therefore my spirit faints within me;

my heart within me is appalled.

⁵I remember the days of old,

I meditate on all that thou hast done;

I muse on what thy hands have wrought.

⁶I stretch out my hands to thee;

my soul thirsts for thee like a parched land. [Selah]

⁷Make haste to answer me, O Lord!

My spirit fails!

Hide not thy face from me,

lest I be like those who go down to the Pit.

⁸Let me hear in the morning of thy steadfast love,

for in thee I put my trust.

Teach me the way I should go,

for to thee I lift up my soul.

⁹Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies!

I have fled to thee for refuge!

¹⁰Teach me to do thy will,

for thou art my God!

Let thy good spirit lead me

on a level path!

¹¹For thy name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life!

In thy righteousness bring me out of trouble!

¹²And in thy steadfast love cut off my enemies,

and destroy all my adversaries,

for I am thy servant.