Skip to content
Open the app

Psalm 142

Refuge in despair

The psalmist pours out complaint to the Lord, confessing overwhelming despair and isolation from all earthly help; he calls for deliverance from persecutors stronger than himself and promises praise for God's bounty.

7 verses. The 142nd of 150 chapters in Psalms, in Poetry and Wisdom.

1I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.

2I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.

3When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.

4I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

5I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

6Attend unto 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 praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

Matthew Henry on Psalm 142

2,010 words, in 2 passages.

  1. Verses 1–3David's Complaints.
  2. Verses 4–7Complaints and Petitions.

King James Version. Public domain. Set as prose throughout, including the poetry, because the text is published to us without its lines.