Psalm 142

Psalm 142 is the 142nd psalm of the biblical Book of Psalms in the Masoretic and modern numbering. In the Greek Septuagint version of the bible, and in its Latin translation in the Vulgate/Vulgata Clementina, this psalm is Psalm 141 in a slightly different numbering system.

This article uses the Hebrew (Masoretic) Psalms numbering. Psalm 142 in Septuagint/Vulgate numbering would correspond to Psalm 143 in Hebrew numbering.
Psalm 142
Scroll of the Psalms
BookBook of Psalms
Hebrew Bible partKetuvim
Order in the Hebrew part1
CategorySifrei Emet
Christian Bible partOld Testament
Order in the Christian part19

The text is presented as a prayer by David at the time he was hiding in the cave (part of the David and Jonathan narrative in the Books of Samuel). It is, consequently, used as a prayer in times of distress.

Text

Hebrew Bible version

Following is the Hebrew text of Psalm 142:[1]

Verse Hebrew
1 מַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְדָוִ֑ד בִּֽהְיוֹת֖וֹ בַמְּעָרָ֣ה תְפִלָּֽה
2 קוֹלִי אֶל־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֶזְעָ֑ק ק֜וֹלִ֗י אֶל־יְ֘הֹוָ֥ה אֶתְחַנָּֽן
3 אֶשְׁפֹּ֣ךְ לְפָנָ֣יו שִׂיחִ֑י צָֽ֜רָתִ֗י לְפָ֘נָ֥יו אַגִּֽיד
4 בְּהִתְעַטֵּ֬ף עָלַ֜י | רוּחִ֗י וְאַתָּה֘ יָדַ֪עְתָּ נְתִֽיבָ֫תִ֥י בְּאֹֽרַח־ז֥וּ אֲהַלֵּ֑ךְ טָֽמְנ֖וּ פַ֥ח לִֽי
5 הַבֵּ֚יט יָמִ֨ין | וּרְאֵה֘ וְאֵין־לִ֪י מַ֫כִּ֥יר אָבַ֣ד מָנ֣וֹס מִמֶּ֑נִּי אֵ֖ין דּוֹרֵ֣שׁ לְנַפְשִֽׁי
6 זָעַ֥קְתִּי אֵלֶ֗יךָ יְהֹ֫וָ֥ה אָ֖מַרְתִּי אַתָּ֣ה מַחְסִּ֑י חֶ֜לְקִ֗י בְּאֶ֣רֶץ הַֽחַיִּים
7 הַקְשִׁ֚יבָה | אֶל־רִנָּתִי֘ כִּֽי־דַלּ֪וֹתִי מְ֫אֹ֥ד הַצִּילֵ֥נִי מֵרֹֽדְפַ֑י כִּ֖י אָֽמְצ֣וּ מִמֶּֽנִּי
8 ה֘וֹצִ֚יאָה מִמַּסְגֵּ֨ר | נַפְשִׁי֘ לְהוֹד֪וֹת אֶת־שְׁ֫מֶ֥ךָ בִּ֖י יַכְתִּ֣רוּ צַדִּיקִ֑ים כִּ֖י תִגְמֹ֣ל עָלָֽי

King James Version

The following is the full English text of the Psalm from the King James Bible.

Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave.
  1. I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.
  2. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.
  3. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.
  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.
  5. I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
  6. Attend unto 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 thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

Verse numbering

In the Hebrew Bible, Psalm 142:1 comprises the designation

Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave. (KJV)

From then on Psalm 142:1–7 in English versions correspond to verses 2–8 in the Hebrew text.

Liturgical use
Psalm 142

 "I cry aloud to the Lord;
  I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.
I pour out before him my complaint;
  before him I tell my trouble.
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.


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.
I cry to you, Lord;
  I say, “You are my refuge,
  my portion in the land of the living.”
Listen to my cry,
  for I am in desperate need;
rescue me from those who pursue me,
  for they are too strong for me.
Set me free from my prison,
  that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
  because of your goodness to me.”

Bible, New International Version (NIV)[2]

In Catholic liturgy, this psalm (also known by its Latin incipit Voce mea ad Dominum clamavi) has been recited at Vespers since the Middle Ages. According to the Rule of St. Benedict (530), this psalm traditionally appeared on Friday night.[3][4] In the current Liturgy of the Hours, this psalm is recited on Saturday Vespers in the first week of the cycle of four weeks. This psalm is known to have been recited by Saint Francis of Assisi on his deathbed.

Musical settings

Polyphonic settings of the psalm have been composed by Andreas Hakenberger, Gracián Babán, and Jules Van Nuffel, among others.

References
  1. "Tehillim - Psalms - Chapter 142". Chabad.org. 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  2. "Psalm 142 - A maskil of David. When he". Bible Gateway. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
  3. Règle de saint Benoît, translated by Prosper Guéranger, p. 47, Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, reissued 2007.
  4. Psautier latin-français du bréviaire monastique, p. 528, 1938/2003.
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