Psalms 142:4-7

Context

142:4 Look to the right and see!

No one cares about me.¹

I have nowhere to run;²

no one is concerned about my life.³

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

I say, “You are my shelter,

my security⁴ in the land of the living.”

142:6 Listen to my cry for help,

for I am in serious trouble!⁵

Rescue me from those who chase me,

for they are stronger than I am.

142:7 Free me⁶ from prison,

that I may give thanks to your name.

Because of me the godly will assemble,⁷

for you will vindicate me.⁸

[142:4] ¹tn Heb “there is no one who recognizes me.”

[142:4] ²tn Heb “ a place of refuge perishes from me.”

[142:4] ³tn Heb “there is no one who seeks for the sake of my life.”

[142:5] ⁴tn Heb “my portion.” The psalmist compares the Lord to landed property, which was foundational to economic stability in ancient Israel.

[142:6] ⁵tn Heb “for I am very low.”

[142:7] ⁶tn Heb “bring out my life.”

[142:7] ⁷tn Or “gather around.”

[142:7] ⁸tn The Hebrew idiom גָּמַל עַל (gamal ’al) means “to repay,” here in a positive sense.