< Psalms 142 >
1 A Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A prayer. I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift my voice to the LORD for mercy.
AN INSTRUCTION OF DAVID. A PRAYER WHEN HE IS IN THE CAVE. My voice [is] to YHWH, I cry, My voice [is] to YHWH, I beg [for] grace.
2 I pour out my complaint before Him; I reveal my trouble to Him.
I pour forth my meditation before Him, I declare my distress before Him.
3 Although my spirit grows faint within me, You know my way. Along the path I travel they have hidden a snare for me.
When my spirit has been feeble in me, Then You have known my path; In the way [in] which I walk, They have hid a snare for me.
4 Look to my right and see; no one attends to me. There is no refuge for me; no one cares for my soul.
Looking on the right hand—and seeing, And I have none recognizing; Refuge has perished from me, There is none inquiring for my soul.
5 I cry to You, O LORD: “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
I have cried to you, O YHWH, I have said, “You [are] my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.”
6 Listen to my cry, for I am brought quite low. Rescue me from my pursuers, for they are too strong for me.
Attend to my loud cry, For I have become very low, Deliver me from my pursuers, For they have been stronger than I.
7 Free my soul from prison, that I may praise Your name. The righteous will gather around me because of Your goodness to me.
Bring forth my soul from prison to confess Your Name, The righteous surround me about, When You confer benefits on me!