Psalm 142-143

New American Standard Bible

Prayer for Help in Trouble.

^[a]Maskil of David, when he was ^[b]in the cave. A Prayer.

142 I ^(A)cry out with my voice to the Lord;
With my voice I ^(B)implore the Lord for compassion.
²I ^(C)pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare my ^(D)trouble before Him.
³When ^(E)my spirit felt weak within me,
You knew my path.
In the way where I walk
They have ^(F)hidden a trap for me.
⁴Look to the right and see;
For there is ^(G)no one who regards me favorably;
^[c]There is no ^(H)escape for me;
^(I)No one cares for my soul.

⁵I cried out to You, Lord;
I said, “You are ^(J)my refuge,
My ^(K)portion in the ^(L)land of the living.
⁶^(M)Give Your attention to my cry,
For I have been ^(N)brought very low;
Rescue me from my persecutors,
For they are too ^(O)strong for me.
⁷^(P)Bring my soul out of prison,
So that I may give thanks to Your name;
The righteous will surround me,
For You will ^(Q)look after me.”

Prayer for Help and Guidance.

A Psalm of David.

143 Hear my prayer, Lord,
^(R)Listen to my pleadings!
Answer me in Your ^(S)faithfulness, in Your ^(T)righteousness!
²And ^(U)do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For ^(V)no person living is righteous in Your sight.
³For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life ^(W)to the ground;
He ^(X)has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead.
⁴Therefore ^(Y)my spirit ^[d]feels weak within me;
My heart is ^[e]^(Z)appalled within me.

⁵I ^(AA)remember the days of old;
I ^(AB)meditate on all Your accomplishments;
I ^(AC)reflect on the work of Your hands.
⁶I ^(AD)spread out my hands to You;
My ^(AE)soul longs for You, like a weary land. Selah

⁷^(AF)Answer me quickly, Lord, my ^(AG)spirit fails;
^(AH)Do not hide Your face from me,
Or I will be the same as ^(AI)those who go down to the pit.
⁸Let me hear Your ^(AJ)faithfulness ^(AK)in the morning,
For I trust ^(AL)in You;
Teach me the ^(AM)way in which I should walk;
For to You I ^(AN)lift up my soul.
⁹^(AO)Save me, Lord, from my enemies;
^[f]I take refuge in You.

¹⁰^(AP)Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Let ^(AQ)Your good Spirit ^(AR)lead me on level ^[g]ground.
¹¹^(AS)For the sake of Your name, Lord, ^(AT)revive me.
^(AU)In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.
¹²And in Your faithfulness, ^[h]^(AV)destroy my enemies,
And ^(AW)eliminate all those who attack my soul,
For ^(AX)I am Your servant.