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Wisdom & Poetry · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Psalm 142

Psalm 142 is read especially through the theme of lament, within Book V (Psalms 107–150). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application.

LamentTrust & RefugeWisdom
Psalms overview
Old Testament

Psalm 142

1A contemplation by David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer. I cry with my voice to the LORD. With my voice, I ask the LORD for mercy.

2I pour out my complaint before him. I tell him my troubles.

3When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, you knew my route. On the path in which I walk, they have hidden a snare for me.

4Look on my right, and see; for there is no one who is concerned for me. Refuge has fled from me. No one cares for my soul.

5I cried to you, LORD. I said, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

6Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need. Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.

7Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, for you will be good to me.

READ IN CONTEXT

Understanding Psalm 142

Psalm 142 is read especially through the theme of lament, within Book V (Psalms 107–150). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application. Read it within the complete five-book Psalms collection, then compare its prayer language with the types of prayer found across Scripture. Classification is a reading aid rather than a replacement for the Psalm's own movement and tension.

Collection

Book V (Psalms 107–150). The five-book shape of the Psalter helps readers hear individual prayers within a deliberately arranged collection.

Themes detected

Lament, Trust & Refuge, Wisdom. Read for these themes while remaining open to tension and secondary movements.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Psalm 142

Psalm 142 contains 7 verses and about 148 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “A contemplation by David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer. I cry with my voice to the LORD. With my voice, I ask the LORD for mercy.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 7 closes: “Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, for you will be good to me.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include voice, refuge, soul, will, contemplation, david. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Psalm 142

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Psalms 142:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

What kind of Psalm is this?+

Our reading profile emphasizes lament, with related themes of Lament, Trust & Refuge, Wisdom. Many Psalms blend genres or move between moods, so this label is a guide rather than a rigid classification.

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