Psalms 142

King James Version

Full text for Psalms Chapter 142

1¶ Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave. I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.

2I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.

3When 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.

4¶ 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.

5I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou [art] my refuge [and] my portion in the land of the living.

6Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

7Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Psalm 142, a prayer of David when he was in the cave, records his fervent cry to the Lord in a time of overwhelming distress. Feeling utterly abandoned by others and facing hidden snares, David poured out his complaint and trouble before God. He declared the Lord to be his only refuge and portion, earnestly seeking deliverance from his persecutors so that he might praise God's name.

Medium Summary

In this Maschil, David, while hiding in a cave, expressed his profound anguish through earnest supplication to the Lord. He confessed that his spirit was overwhelmed, yet acknowledged God's knowledge of his perilous path where snares were secretly laid. David lamented that no one on his right hand would acknowledge him, and he found no refuge or care for his soul among men. Consequently, he reaffirmed his trust in the Lord as his sole refuge and portion in the land of the living. He pleaded for God to attend to his cry, deliver him from stronger persecutors, and bring his soul out of a metaphorical prison, so he could offer praise.

Long Summary

Psalm 142 is presented as a Maschil of David, a prayer offered when he was in a cave, signifying a period of extreme vulnerability and isolation. David began by describing his intense supplication, crying out to the Lord with his voice, pouring out his complaint and revealing his deep trouble. He confessed that his spirit was utterly overwhelmed within him, yet affirmed God's intimate knowledge of his path, even where hidden snares were laid by his adversaries. David then depicted his profound sense of abandonment, looking for help but finding no one who would acknowledge or care for his soul, signifying a complete lack of human support. In this state of desolation, he turned exclusively to the Lord, declaring Him to be his only refuge and his portion in the land of the living. David's prayer became a fervent plea for divine intervention: he implored God to attend to his cry, acknowledging his low state. He specifically requested deliverance from his persecutors, recognizing their superior strength. The psalm concludes with David's earnest petition for his soul to be brought out of this metaphorical prison, stating that his ultimate desire was to praise God's name. He anticipated that upon his deliverance, the righteous would gather around him, a testament to God's bountiful dealing with him.

Core Concepts

  • Prayer in DistressDavid's earnest and vocal supplication to the Lord, made from a place of deep trouble and overwhelming spirit, specifically while he was in a cave.
  • Divine OmniscienceDespite David's internal turmoil and the hidden dangers he faced, he affirmed that God knew his path and understood his plight completely.
  • Human AbandonmentDavid experienced profound isolation, lamenting that no one cared for his soul or offered him refuge, highlighting his dependence solely on God.
  • God as Sole RefugeIn his despair, David declared the Lord to be his exclusive sanctuary and his portion, indicating his complete trust and reliance on divine provision.
  • Plea for DeliveranceDavid earnestly requested rescue from his stronger persecutors and release from his 'prison,' motivated by the desire to praise God's name.
  • Motivation for PraiseDavid's ultimate aim in seeking deliverance was to glorify God's name, anticipating that God's bountiful dealing would lead to the righteous gathering around him.