Psalm 142 – A Prayer for Deliverance from Persecutors

A maskil of David, while he was in the cave, a prayer.

142 Loudly I cry to the Lord:

to the Lord plead loudly for mercy,

2 I pour my complaint before him,

I tell my troubles to him.

3 When my spirit is faint within me,

my path is known to you.

In the way I am wont to walk in,

they have hidden a trap for me.

4 I look to the right and the left;

but not a friend have I.

No place of refuge is left me,

not a man to care for me.

5 So I cry to you, O Lord:

I say, ‘My refuge are you,

all I have in the land of the living.’

6 Attend to my piercing cry,

for very weak am I.

Save me from those who pursue me,

for they are too strong for me.

7 Free me from prison,

that I may give thanks to your name,

for the righteous are patiently waiting

till you show your bounty to me.