Psalms 142:4

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.

Psalms 142:4 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.
English Standard Version (ESV)
4 Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul.
New Living Translation (NLT)
4 I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me.
The Message Bible (MSG)
4 Look right, look left - there's not a soul who cares what happens! I'm up against it, with no exit - bereft, left alone.
American Standard Version (ASV)
4 Look on [my] right hand, and see; For there is no man that knoweth me: Refuge hath failed me; No man careth for my soul.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
4 Look to my right and see that no one notices me. Escape is impossible for me. No one cares about me.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
4 Look to the right and see: no one stands up for me; there is no refuge for me; no one cares about me.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
4 Look around me, and you will see that no one is concerned about me. I have no place of safety. No one cares whether I live or die.

Psalms 142:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 142:4

I looked on [my] right hand, and beheld
On the left, so Kimchi supplies it, and after him Piscator; he looked about him every way to the right and left, to see if he could get any help, or find out any way of deliverance. To this sense the Targum, Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions render the words; and so Kimchi and Aben Ezra understand them: but some render them in the imperative, "look on the right hand, and behold" F14; and consider them; either as spoken to his own soul, to stir up himself to look around him for help and relief; or as an address to God, to look and behold, as in ( Psalms 80:14 ) ; and R. Obadiah reads them, "look, O right hand"; O right hand of God, that does valiantly: but looking cannot properly be ascribed to the right hand; and besides it is not the Lord the psalmist is speaking to, or looking after, but men, as follows; but [there was] no man that would know me;
take notice of him, and acknowledge and own him, or show him any favour, or even own that they had any knowledge of him; which is often the case when men are in affliction and distress, their former friends, acquaintance, yea, relations, keep at a distance from them; so it was with Job, the Messiah, and others; see ( Job 19:13 ) ( Psalms 69:8 ) ; refuge failed me;
as he could get no help from men, so there was no way open for his escape, or by which he could flee and get out of the hands and reach of his enemies; in these circumstances he was when in the cave; no man cared for my soul;
or "life" F15; to save it, protect and defend it, that is, very few; otherwise there were some that were concerned for him, as the men that were with him, and Jonathan, Saul's son; but none of Saul's courtiers, they were not solicitous for his welfare, but on the contrary sought his life, to take it away. This is an emblem of a soul under first awakenings and convictions, inquiring the way of salvation, and where to find help, but at a lois for it in the creature.


FOOTNOTES:

F14 (harw Nymy jybh) "respice dexteram et vide", Montanus; "vel ad dexteram", Musculus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Michaelis.
F15 (yvpn) "vitam meam", Junius & Tremellius.

Psalms 142:4 In-Context

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.”
6 Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Jeremiah 25:35
  • 2. Psalms 31:11; Jeremiah 30:17
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