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Psalm 142

When My Spirit Grows Faint

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A maskil[a] by David. When he was in the cave.[b] A prayer.

A Prayer for the Weary

With my voice I cry out to the Lord.
With my voice I call to the Lord for mercy.
I pour out my complaint before him.
I tell my distress before him.
When my spirit grows faint within me,
you are the one who knows my course.
On the path where I walk they have hidden a snare for me.
Look to my right and see.
There is no one who recognizes me.
There is no escape for me.
No one cares about my life.
I cry out to you, Lord.
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”
Pay attention to my loud cry,
because I am very weak.
Rescue me from those who pursue me,
because they are too strong for me.
Set me free from my prison,
so I can give thanks to your name.
Then the righteous will gather around me,
because you have accomplished your purpose for me.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 142:1 A maskil is a type of hymn. It means a song that makes one wise or a skillful song.
  2. Psalm 142:1 The cave at Adullam in 1 Samuel 22 or the cave at En Gedi in 1 Samuel 24

142 I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.

I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.

I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.