6 Attend H7181 unto my cry; H7440 for I am brought H1809 very H3966 low: H1809 deliver H5337 me from my persecutors; H7291 for they are stronger H553 than I.
O remember H2142 not against us former H7223 iniquities: H5771 let thy tender mercies H7356 speedily H4118 prevent H6923 us: for we are brought H1809 very H3966 low. H1809
After H310 whom is the king H4428 of Israel H3478 come out? H3318 after H310 whom dost thou pursue? H7291 after H310 a dead H4191 dog, H3611 after H310 a H259 flea. H6550
But mine enemies H341 are lively, H2416 and they are strong: H6105 and they that hate H8130 me wrongfully H8267 are multiplied. H7231
Wherefore hidest H5641 thou thy face, H6440 and forgettest H7911 our affliction H6040 and our oppression? H3906 For our soul H5315 is bowed down H7743 to the dust: H6083 our belly H990 cleaveth H1692 unto the earth. H776 Arise H6965 for our help, H5833 and redeem H6299 us for thy mercies' H2617 sake.
He shall send H7971 from heaven, H8064 and save H3467 me from the reproach H2778 of him that would swallow me up. H7602 Selah. H5542 God H430 shall send forth H7971 his mercy H2617 and his truth. H571 My soul H5315 is among H8432 lions: H3833 and I lie H7901 even among them that are set on fire, H3857 even the sons H1121 of men, H120 whose teeth H8127 are spears H2595 and arrows, H2671 and their tongue H3956 a sharp H2299 sword. H2719
For, lo, they lie in wait H693 for my soul: H5315 the mighty H5794 are gathered H1481 against me; not for my transgression, H6588 nor for my sin, H2403 O LORD. H3068
Who remembered H2142 us in our low estate: H8216 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769
Hear H6030 me speedily, H4118 O LORD: H3068 my spirit H7307 faileth: H3615 hide H5641 not thy face H6440 from me, lest I be like H4911 unto them that go down H3381 into the pit. H953
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 142
Commentary on Psalms 142 Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalm 142
This psalm is a prayer, the substance of which David offered up to God when he was forced by Saul to take shelter in a cave, and which he afterwards penned in this form. Here is,
Those that are troubled in mind, body, or estate, may, in singing this psalm (if they sing it in some measure with David's spirit), both warrant his complaints and fetch in his comforts.
Maschil of David. A prayer when he was in the cave.
Psa 142:1-3
Whether it was in the cave of Adullam, or that of Engedi, that David prayed this prayer, is not material; it is plain that he was in distress. It was a great disgrace to so great a soldier, so great a courtier, to be put to such shifts for his own safety, and a great terror to be so hotly pursued and every moment in expectation of death; yet then he had such a presence of mind as to pray this prayer, and, wherever he was, still had his religion about him. Prayers and tears were his weapons, and, when he durst not stretch forth his hands against his prince, he lifted them up to his God. There is no cave so deep, so dark, but we may out of it send up our prayers, and our souls in prayer, to God. He calls this prayer Maschil-a psalm of instruction, because of the good lessons he had himself learnt in the cave, learnt on his knees, which he desired to teach others. In these verses observe,
Psa 142:4-7
The psalmist here tells us, for our instruction,