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.


A Psalme of David, to give instruction, and a prayer, when he was in the cave. I cryed vnto the Lord with my voyce: with my voyce I prayed vnto the Lord.

I powred out my meditation before him, and declared mine affliction in his presence.

Though my spirit was in perplexitie in me, yet thou knewest my path: in the way wherein I walked, haue they priuily layde a snare for me.

I looked vpon my right hand, and beheld, but there was none that would knowe me: all refuge failed me, and none cared for my soule.

Then cryed I vnto thee, O Lord, and sayde, thou art mine hope, and my portion in the land of the liuing.

Hearken vnto my crye, for I am brought very lowe: deliuer me from my persecuters, for they are too strong for me.

Bring my soule out of prison, that I may prayse thy Name: then shall the righteous come about me, when thou art beneficiall vnto 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/geneva1599/romans/chapter-8/26">Romans 8:26</a>. Browse related chapters on the <a href="/bible/geneva1599/psalms">Psalms overview</a> or continue to <a href="/bible/geneva1599/psalms/chapter-143">Psalms 143</a>.