When My Spirit Was Overwhelmed Within Me

A psalm where David cries out to God to deliver from his persecutors. He describes the depth of his despair with words like "my spirit was overwhelmed within me", "no one who acknowledges me", "no one cares for my soul". Some of us may feel this way at some times and to different degrees. But we can learn much from David in that during such despair, he still cries out to God and knows that God is his refuge. He finishes with much hope that God will deal "bountifully" with him and he will be able to praise God's name.



Psalm 142
A Plea for Relief from Persecutors
A Contemplation[a] of David. A Prayer when he was in the cave.

1 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 walk
They 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.”