Psalms 142:1-7
1 I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.
2 I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.
3 When 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.
4 I lookeda on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.
5 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
6 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
CXLII. The Psalmist prays for help to God who knows his distress. His enemies are stronger than he, and there is none to help him, save God. The righteous will welcome his deliverance from the snares around him as a triumph of their own. In Psalms 142:4 follow mg. In Psalms 142:7 the prison need not be taken in a literal sense. For compass me about, render shall triumph because of me. The ascription of the Ps. in the title to David in the cave or rather fortress of Adullam has no support in the Ps. itself. There is no means of fixing the date even approximately.