Psalms 142

1 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.

The understanding of David. A prayer, when he was in the cave. With my voice, I cried out to the Lord. With my voice, I made supplication to the Lord.

2 I pour forth my meditation before Him, I declare my distress before Him.

In his sight, I pour out my prayer, and before him, I declare my tribulation.

3 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.

Though my spirit may become faint within me, even then, you have known my paths. Along this way, which I have been walking, they have hidden a snare for me.

4 Looking on the right hand—and seeing, And I have none recognizing; Refuge has perished from me, There is none inquiring for my soul.

I considered toward the right, and I looked, but there was no one who would know me. Flight has perished before me, and there is no one who has concern for my soul.

5 I have cried to you, O YHWH, I have said, “You [are] my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.”

I cried out to you, O Lord. I said: You are my hope, my portion in the land of the living.

6 Attend to my loud cry, For I have become very low, Deliver me from my pursuers, For they have been stronger than I.

Attend to my supplication. For I have been humbled exceedingly. Free me from my persecutors, for they have been fortified against me.

7 Bring forth my soul from prison to confess Your Name, The righteous surround me about, When You confer benefits on me!

Lead my soul out of confinement in order to confess your name. The just are waiting for me, until you repay me.