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.

[A contemplation by David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer.] I cry with my voice to Jehovah. With my voice, I ask Jehovah for mercy.

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

I pour out my complaint before him. I tell him my troubles.

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.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, you knew my path. In the way in which I walk, 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.

Look on my right, and see; for there is no one who is concerned for me. Refuge has fled from me. No one cares 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 to you, Jehovah. I said, "You are my refuge, 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.

Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need. Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than me.

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

Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, for you will be good to me.