Mazmur 142:2-7

142:2 I pour out my lament before him;

I tell him about ¹  my troubles.

142:3 Even when my strength leaves me, ² 

you watch my footsteps. ³ 

In the path where I walk

they have hidden a trap for me.

142:4 Look to the right and see!

No one cares about me. ⁴ 

I have nowhere to run; ⁵ 

no one is concerned about my life. ⁶ 

142:5 I cry out to you, O Lord;

I say, “You are my shelter,

my security ⁷  in the land of the living.”

142:6 Listen to my cry for help,

for I am in serious trouble! ⁸ 

Rescue me from those who chase me,

for they are stronger than I am.

142:7 Free me ⁹  from prison,

that I may give thanks to your name.

Because of me the godly will assemble, ¹⁰ 

for you will vindicate me. ¹¹ 

[142:2]  ¹ tn Heb “my trouble before him I declare.”

[142:3]  ² tn Heb “my spirit grows faint.”

[142:3]  ³ tn Heb “you know my path.”

[142:4]  ⁴ tn Heb “there is no one who recognizes me.”

[142:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “ a place of refuge perishes from me.”

[142:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “there is no one who seeks for the sake of my life.”

[142:5]  ⁷ tn Heb “my portion.” The psalmist compares the Lord to landed property, which was foundational to economic stability in ancient Israel.

[142:6]  ⁸ tn Heb “for I am very low.”

[142:7]  ⁹ tn Heb “bring out my life.”

[142:7]  ¹⁰ tn Or “gather around.”

[142:7]  ¹¹ tn The Hebrew idiom גָּמַל עַל (gamal ’al) means “to repay,” here in a positive sense.