A Plea for Relief from Persecutors

A Contemplation^[a] of David. A Prayer when he was in the cave.

142 I cry out to the Lord with my voice;With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication.² I pour out my complaint before Him;I declare before Him my trouble.

³ When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,Then You knew my path.In the way in which I walkThey have secretly set a snare for me.⁴ Look on my right hand and see,For there is no one who acknowledges me;Refuge has failed me;No one cares for my soul.

⁵ I cried out to You, O Lord:I said, “You are my refuge,My portion in the land of the living.⁶ Attend to 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 Your name;The righteous shall surround me,For You shall deal bountifully with me.”