Psalms 142:1

A maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer.

1 [a][b]I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy.

Psalms 142:1 in Other Translations

KJV
1 I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.
ESV
1 With my voice I cry out to the LORD; with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD.
NLT
1 I cry out to the LORD ; I plead for the LORD ’s mercy.
MSG
1 I cry out loudly to God, loudly I plead with God for mercy.
CSB
1 I cry aloud to the Lord; I plead aloud to the Lord for mercy.

Psalms 142:1 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 142:1

I cried unto the Lord with my voice
With the voice of his soul, in the language of his mind, mentally, as Moses and Hannah cried unto the Lord when no voice was heard, or articulate sounds expressed, since this prayer was put up to the Lord in the cave where Saul was; though it might have been delivered before he came into it, while he and his men were at the mouth of it, which threw David into this distress; besides the cave was so large as to hold David and his six hundred men without being seen by Saul, and who could discourse together, as David and his men did, without being heard by Saul while he was in it; and so this psalm or prayer might be spoken vocally, though he was there; with my voice unto the Lord did I make, my supplication:
the same thing in other words; "crying" is explained by making "supplication", which is praying to the Lord in an humble manner for grace and mercy, and not pleading merit and worthiness.

Psalms 142:1 In-Context

1 I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy.
2 I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble.
3 When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me.
4 Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.
5 I cry to you, LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

Cross References 2

  • 1. S 1 Kings 8:52; Psalms 3:4
  • 2. Psalms 30:8

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. In Hebrew texts 142:1-7 is numbered 142:2-8.
  • [b]. Title: Probably a literary or musical term
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