Psalm 142-143

English Standard Version

You Are My Refuge

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

142 With my voice I ^(B)cry out to the Lord;
with my voice I ^(C)plead for mercy to the Lord.
²I ^(D)pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him.

³When my spirit ^(E)faints within me,
    you know my way!
In the path where I walk
    they have ^(F)hidden a trap for me.
⁴^(G)Look to the ^(H)right and see:
    ^(I)there is none who takes notice of me;
^(J)no refuge remains to me;
    no one cares for my soul.

⁵I cry to you, O Lord;
    I say, “You are my ^(K)refuge,
    my ^(L)portion in ^(M)the land of the living.”
⁶^(N)Attend to my cry,
    for ^(O)I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my persecutors,
    ^(P)for they are too strong for me!
⁷^(Q)Bring me out of prison,
    that I may give thanks to your name!
The righteous will surround me,
    for you will ^(R)deal bountifully with me.

My Soul Thirsts for You

A Psalm of David.

143 Hear my prayer, O Lord;
    ^(S)give ear to my pleas for mercy!
    In your ^(T)faithfulness answer me, in your ^(U)righteousness!
²^(V)Enter not into judgment with your servant,
    for no one living is righteous ^(W)before you.

³For the enemy has pursued my soul;
    ^(X)he has crushed my life to the ground;
    ^(Y)he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
⁴Therefore my spirit ^(Z)faints within me;
    my heart within me is appalled.

⁵^(AA)I remember the days of old;
    ^(AB)I meditate on all that you have done;
    I ponder the work of your hands.
⁶^(AC)I stretch out my hands to you;
    ^(AD)my soul thirsts for you like ^(AE)a parched land. Selah

⁷^(AF)Answer me quickly, O Lord!
    ^(AG)My spirit fails!
^(AH)Hide not your face from me,
    ^(AI)lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
⁸^(AJ)Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
    for in you I ^(AK)trust.
^(AL)Make me know the way I should go,
    ^(AM)for to you I lift up my soul.

⁹^(AN)Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!
    I have fled to you for refuge.^[b]
¹⁰^(AO)Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God!
^(AP)Let your good Spirit ^(AQ)lead me
    on ^(AR)level ground!

¹¹^(AS)For your name's sake, O Lord, ^(AT)preserve my life!
    In your righteousness ^(AU)bring my soul out of trouble!
¹²And in your steadfast love you will ^(AV)cut off my enemies,
    and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
    for I am your ^(AW)servant.