Psalms 142

A lonely cry for help answered by trust in God alone.

Psalms 142 - My Refuge in the Land of the Living

Psalm 142 records a raw, personal complaint, poured out before God at a moment when "refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul." It follows the guarded, watchful prayer of Psalms 141 with an even more isolated cry for help.


I cry with my voice to Jehovah. With my voice to Jehovah I make supplication.

I pour out my complaint before him. I show my trouble before him.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, thou knew my path. In the way in which I walk they have hidden a snare for me.

Look on my right hand, and see, for there is no man who knows me. Refuge has failed me. No man cares for my soul.

I cried to thee, O Jehovah. I said, Thou are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.

Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low. Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I.

Bring my soul out of prison that I may give thanks to thy name. The righteous shall encompass me around, for thou will deal bountifully with me.

Despite the loneliness, the psalmist calls the LORD "my refuge and my portion in the land of the living" and asks to be brought "out of prison" to praise God's name, a trust in weakness echoed in <a href="/bible/acv/romans/chapter-8/26">Romans 8:26</a>. Browse related chapters on the <a href="/bible/acv/psalms">Psalms overview</a> or continue to <a href="/bible/acv/psalms/chapter-143">Psalms 143</a>.