Text -- Psalms 142:1-7 (NET)

Psalm 142

142:1 A well-written song by David, when he was in the cave; a prayer. To the Lord I cry out; to the Lord I plead for mercy. 142:2 I pour out my lament before him; I tell him about my troubles. 142:3 Even when my strength leaves me, you watch my footsteps. In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. 142:4 Look to the right and see! No one cares about me. I have nowhere to run; no one is concerned about my life. 142:5 I cry out to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my shelter, my security in the land of the living.” 142:6 Listen to my cry for help, for I am in serious trouble! Rescue me from those who chase me, for they are stronger than I am. 142:7 Free me from prison, that I may give thanks to your name. Because of me the godly will assemble, for you will vindicate me.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Psa 142:1

¹ sn Psalm 142. The psalmist laments his persecuted state and asks the Lord to deliver him from his enemies.

² tn The meaning of the Hebrew term מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) is uncertain. The word is derived from a verb meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.” Various options are: “a contemplative song,” “a song imparting moral wisdom,” or “a skillful [i.e., well-written] song.” The term occurs in the superscriptions of Pss 32, 42, 44, 45, 52-55, 74, 78, 88, 89, and 142, as well as in Ps 47:7.

³ sn According to the superscription, David wrote this psalm while in “the cave.” This probably refers to either the incident recorded in 1 Sam 22:1 or to the one recorded in 1 Sam 24:3. See the superscription of Ps 57.

⁴ tn Heb “[with] my voice to the Lord I cry out.”

⁵ tn Heb “[with] my voice to the Lord I plead for mercy.”

NET Notes: Psa 142:2

¹ tn Heb “my trouble before him I declare.”

NET Notes: Psa 142:3

¹ tn Heb “my spirit grows faint.”

² tn Heb “you know my path.”

NET Notes: Psa 142:4

¹ tn Heb “there is no one who recognizes me.”

² tn Heb “ a place of refuge perishes from me.”

³ tn Heb “there is no one who seeks for the sake of my life.”

NET Notes: Psa 142:5

¹ tn Heb “my portion.” The psalmist compares the Lord to landed property, which was foundational to economic stability in ancient Israel.

NET Notes: Psa 142:6

¹ tn Heb “for I am very low.”

NET Notes: Psa 142:7

¹ tn Heb “bring out my life.”

² tn Or “gather around.”

³ tn The Hebrew idiom גָּמַל עַל (gamal ’al) means “to repay,” here in a positive sense.