Psalms 142

1 A maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A prayer. I call out to the Lord for help; pleading with the Lord for mercy.

An Instructive Psalm of David. When he was in the Cave. A Prayer. With my voice—to Yahweh, make I outcry, With my voice—to Yahweh, make I supplication:

2 I pour out my complaints before him; I tell him what's troubling me.

I pour out before him my complaint, My distress—before him, I tell.

3 When I'm totally discouraged, you know the direction I should take. But whichever way I go, people set traps for me.

When my spirit fainted concerning myself, then, thou, didst take note of my path, —In the course which I was about to take, they had hidden a snare for me.

4 I look to my right for someone to support me—but no one pays me any attention. There's no safe place for me—no one cares about me at all.

Look to the right hand and see, that there is none that, for me, hath regard, —Escape is lost to me, There is no one to care for my life.

5 I cry out to you, Lord, for help, saying, “You are the one who keeps me safe; you are all I need in life.

I have made outcry unto thee, O Yahweh, —I have said, Thou, art my refuge, my portion, in the land of the living.

6 Please listen to my sad cry, for I'm feeling very low. Please save me from those who are after me, for they're too strong for me.

Attend thou unto my loud cry, for I am brought very low, —Rescue me from my pursuers, for they are stronger than I.

7 Release me from my prison so I can praise you for the person you are! Those who live right will gather round me because you have treated me so well.”

O bring forth, out of prison, my soul, That I may give thanks unto thy Name, —About me, let the righteous gather round, for thou wilt deal bountifully with me.