Psa 142 | HCSB | STEP | A Davidic Maskil . When he was in the cave . A prayer . I cry aloud to the Lord ; I plead aloud to the Lord for mercy .

b 1Sa 22:1; 24:3

c Ps 3:4; 77:1

d Ps 30:8

e Ps 77:2; 102 title

Psalms 142

A Cry of Distress

1 A Davidic ^{▼▼Maskil: From a Hebrew word meaning to be prudent or to have insight; possibly a contemplative, instructive, or wisdom psalm}Maskil. When he was in the cave. ^b A prayer.

I cry aloud to the Lord; ^c
I plead aloud to the Lord for mercy. ^d
2 I pour out my complaint before Him;
I reveal my trouble to Him. ^e
3 Although my spirit is weak within me,
You know my way. ^f

Along this path I travel
they have hidden a trap for me. ^g
4 Look to the right and see: ^{▼▼DSS, LXX, Syr, Vg, Tg read I look to the right and I see}
no one stands up for me;
there is no refuge for me;
no one cares about me. ⁱ

5 I cry to You, Lord;
I say, “You are my shelter,
my portion in the land of the living.” ^j
6 Listen to my cry,
for I am very weak. ^k
Rescue me from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong for me. ^l
7 Free me from prison
so that I can praise Your name.
The righteous will gather around me
because You deal generously with me. ^m