Psalms 142:2-7

Context

142:2 I pour out my lament before him;

I tell him about¹ my troubles.

142:3 Even when my strength leaves me,²

you watch my footsteps.³

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.⁴

I have nowhere to run;⁵

no one is concerned about my life.⁶

142:5 I cry out to you, O Lord;

I say, “You are my shelter,

my security⁷ in the land of the living.”

142:6 Listen to my cry for help,

for I am in serious trouble!⁸

Rescue me from those who chase me,

for they are stronger than I am.

142:7 Free me⁹ from prison,

that I may give thanks to your name.

Because of me the godly will assemble,¹⁰

for you will vindicate me.¹¹

[142:2] ¹tn Heb “my trouble before him I declare.”

[142:3] ²tn Heb “my spirit grows faint.”

[142:3] ³tn Heb “you know my path.”

[142:4] ⁴tn Heb “there is no one who recognizes me.”

[142:4] ⁵tn Heb “ a place of refuge perishes from me.”

[142:4] ⁶tn Heb “there is no one who seeks for the sake of my life.”

[142:5] ⁷tn Heb “my portion.” The psalmist compares the Lord to landed property, which was foundational to economic stability in ancient Israel.

[142:6] ⁸tn Heb “for I am very low.”

[142:7] ⁹tn Heb “bring out my life.”

[142:7] ¹⁰tn Or “gather around.”

[142:7] ¹¹tn The Hebrew idiom גָּמַל עַל (gamal ’al) means “to repay,” here in a positive sense.