psalm

A Prayer for Help[a]

142 
I call to the Lord for help;

I plead with him.

I bring him all my complaints;

I tell him all my troubles.

When I am ready to give up,

he knows what I should do.

In the path where I walk,

my enemies have hidden a trap for me.

When I look beside me,

I see that there is no one to help me,

no one to protect me.

No one cares for me.

Lord, I cry to you for help;

you, Lord, are my protector;

you are all I want in this life.

Listen to my cry for help,

for I am sunk in despair.

Save me from my enemies;

they are too strong for me.

Set me free from my distress;[b]

then in the assembly of your people I will praise you

because of your goodness to me.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 142:1 HEBREW TITLE: A poem by David, when he was in the cave; a prayer.
  2. Psalm 142:7 distress; or prison.