Psalm 142-143

New King James Version

A Plea for Relief from Persecutors

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

142 I cry out to the Lord with my voice;
With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication.
²I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare before Him my trouble.

³When my spirit ^[b]was ^(C)overwhelmed within me,
Then You knew my path.
In the way in which I walk
They have secretly ^(D)set a snare for me.
⁴Look on my right hand and see,
For there is no one who acknowledges me;
Refuge has failed me;
No one cares for my soul.

⁵I cried out to You, O Lord:
I said, “You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living.
⁶^[c]Attend to my cry,
For I am brought very low;
Deliver me from my persecutors,
For they are stronger than I.
⁷Bring my soul out of prison,
That I may ^(E)praise Your name;
The righteous shall surround me,
For You shall deal bountifully with me.”

An Earnest Appeal for Guidance and Deliverance

A Psalm of David.

143 Hear my prayer, O Lord,
Give ear to my supplications!
In Your faithfulness answer me,
And in Your righteousness.
²Do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
^(F)For in Your sight no one living is righteous.

³For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life to the ground;
He has made me dwell in ^[d]darkness,
Like those who have long been dead.
⁴^(G)Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;
My heart within me is distressed.

⁵^(H)I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all Your works;
I ^[e]muse on the work of Your hands.
⁶I spread out my hands to You;
^(I)My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah

⁷Answer me speedily, O Lord;
My spirit fails!
Do not hide Your face from me,
^(J)Lest I ^[f]be like those who ^[g]go down into the pit.
⁸Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness ^(K)in the morning,
For in You do I trust;
^(L)Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For ^(M)I lift up my soul to You.

⁹Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;
^[h]In You I take shelter.
¹⁰^(N)Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
^(O)Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in ^(P)the land of uprightness.

¹¹^(Q)Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake!
For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
¹²In Your mercy ^(R)cut^[i] off my enemies,
And destroy all those who afflict my soul;
For I am Your servant.