Net English TranslationPsalms 142 =
Psalm 1421
142

1 A well-written song2 by David, when he was in the cave;3 a prayer.

To the Lord I cry out;4
to the Lord I plead for mercy.5
2 I pour out my lament before him;
I tell him about6 my troubles.
3 Even when my strength leaves me,7
you watch my footsteps.8
In the path where I walk
they have hidden a trap for me.
4 Look to the right and see!
No one cares about me.9
I have nowhere to run;10
no one is concerned about my life.11
5 I cry out to you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my shelter,
my security12 in the land of the living.”
6 Listen to my cry for help,
for I am in serious trouble!13
Rescue me from those who chase me,
for they are stronger than I am.
7 Free me14 from prison,
that I may give thanks to your name.
Because of me the godly will assemble,15
for you will vindicate me.16
1sn Psalm 142. The psalmist laments his persecuted state and asks the Lord to deliver him from his enemies. 2tn 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. 3sn 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. 4tn Heb “[with] my voice to the Lord I cry out.” 5tn Heb “[with] my voice to the Lord I plead for mercy.” 6tn Heb “my trouble before him I declare.” 7tn Heb “my spirit grows faint.” 8tn Heb “you know my path.” 9tn Heb “there is no one who recognizes me.” 10tn Heb “ a place of refuge perishes from me.” 11tn Heb “there is no one who seeks for the sake of my life.” 12tn Heb “my portion.” The psalmist compares the Lord to landed property, which was foundational to economic stability in ancient Israel. 13tn Heb “for I am very low.” 14tn Heb “bring out my life.” 15tn Or “gather around.” 16tn The Hebrew idiom גָּמַל עַל (gamal ’al) means “to repay,” here in a positive sense.
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