Psalm 142-143

Easy-to-Read Version

A maskil of David written when he was in the cave. A prayer.

142 I cry out to the Lord.
    I beg the Lord to help me.
²I tell him my problems;
    I tell him about my troubles.
³I am ready to give up.
    But you, Lord, know the path I am on,
    and you know that my enemies have set a trap for me.

⁴I look around,
    and I don’t see anyone I know.
I have no place to run.
    There is no one to save me.
⁵Lord, I cry out to you for help:
    “You are my place of safety.
    You are all I need in life.”
⁶Listen to my prayer.
    I am so weak.
Save me from those who are chasing me.
    They are stronger than I am.
⁷Help me escape this trap,^[a]
    so that I can praise your name.
Then good people will celebrate with me,
    because you took care of me.

A praise song of David.

143 Lord, hear my prayer.
    Listen to my call for help and answer my prayer.
    Show me how good and loyal you are.
²Don’t judge me, your servant.
    No one alive could be judged innocent by your standards.
³My enemies are chasing me.
    They have crushed me into the dirt.
They are pushing me into the dark grave,
    like people who died long ago.
⁴I am ready to give up.
    I am losing my courage.
⁵But I remember what happened long ago.
    I am thinking about all you have done.
    I am talking about what you made with your hands!
⁶I lift my hands in prayer to you.
    I am waiting for your help, like a dry land waiting for rain. Selah

⁷Hurry and answer me, Lord!
    I have lost my courage.
Don’t turn away from me.
    Don’t let me die and become like the people lying in the grave.
⁸Show me your faithful love this morning.
    I trust in you.
Show me what I should do.
    I put my life in your hands!
⁹Lord, I come to you for protection.
    Save me from my enemies.
¹⁰Show me what you want me to do.
    You are my God.
Let your good Spirit lead me over level ground.
¹¹Lord, let me live
    so that people will praise your name.
Show me how good you are
    and save me from my trouble.
¹²Show me your love
    and defeat my enemies.
Destroy those who are trying to kill me
    because I am your servant.