2 I pour forth before Him my meditation, My distress before Him I declare.
A Prayer of the afflicted when he is feeble, and before Jehovah poureth out his plaint. O Jehovah, hear my prayer, yea, my cry to Thee cometh. Hide not Thou Thy face from me, In a day of mine adversity, Incline unto me Thine ear, In the day I call, haste, answer me. For consumed in smoke have been my days, And my bones as a fire-brand have burned. Smitten as the herb, and withered, is my heart, For I have forgotten to eat my bread. From the voice of my sighing Hath my bone cleaved to my flesh. I have been like to a pelican of the wilderness, I have been as an owl of the dry places. I have watched, and I am As a bird alone on the roof. All the day mine enemies reproached me, Those mad at me have sworn against me. Because ashes as bread I have eaten, And my drink with weeping have mingled, From Thine indignation and Thy wrath, For Thou hast lifted me up, And dost cast me down. My days as a shadow `are' stretched out, And I -- as the herb I am withered. And Thou, O Jehovah, to the age abidest, And Thy memorial to all generations. Thou -- Thou risest -- Thou pitiest Zion, For the time to favour her, For the appointed time hath come. For Thy servants have been pleased with her stones, And her dust they favour. And nations fear the name of Jehovah, And all kings of the earth Thine honour, For Jehovah hath builded Zion, He hath been seen in His honour, He turned unto the prayer of the destitute, And He hath not despised their prayer. This is written for a later generation, And the people created do praise Jah. For He hath looked From the high place of His sanctuary. Jehovah from heaven unto earth looked attentively, To hear the groan of the prisoner, To loose sons of death, To declare in Zion the name of Jehovah, And His praise in Jerusalem, In the peoples being gathered together, And the kingdoms -- to serve Jehovah. He hath humbled in the way my power, He hath shortened my days. I say, `My God, take me not up in the midst of my days,' Through all generations `are' Thine years. Beforetime the earth Thou didst found, And the work of Thy hands `are' the heavens. They -- They perish, and Thou remainest, And all of them as a garment become old, As clothing Thou changest them, And they are changed. And Thou `art' the same, and Thine years are not finished. The sons of Thy servants do continue, And their seed before Thee is established!
for nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer, and by supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God; and the peace of God, that is surpassing all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
And Hannah answereth and saith, `No, my lord, A woman sharply pained in spirit I `am', and wine and strong drink I have not drunk, and I pour out my soul before Jehovah; put not thy handmaid before a daughter of worthlessness, for from the abundance of my meditation, and of my provocation, I have spoken hitherto.'
Compassed me have cords of death, And streams of the worthless make me afraid. Cords of Sheol have surrounded me, Before me have been snares of death. In mine adversity I call Jehovah, And unto my God I cry. He heareth from His temple my voice, And My cry before Him cometh into His ears.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 142
Commentary on Psalms 142 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 142
Ps 142:1-7. Maschil—(See on Ps 32:1, title). When he was in the cave—either of Adullam (1Sa 22:1), or En-gedi (1Sa 24:3). This does not mean that the Psalm was composed in the cave, but that the precarious mode of life, of which his refuge in caves was a striking illustration, occasioned the complaint, which constitutes the first part of the Psalm and furnishes the reason for the prayer with which it concludes, and which, as the prominent characteristic, gives its name.
1. with my voice—audibly, because earnestly.
2. (Compare Ps 62:8).
I poured out my complaint—or, "a sad musing."
3. thou knewest … path—The appeal is indicative of conscious innocence; knowest it to be right, and that my affliction is owing to the snares of enemies, and is not deserved (compare Ps 42:4; 61:2).
4. Utter desolation is meant.
right hand—the place of a protector (Ps 110:5).
cared for—literally, "sought after," to do good.
5. (Compare Ps 31:14; 62:7).
6. (Compare Ps 17:1).
7. (Compare Ps 25:17).
that I may praise—literally, "for praising," or, "that Thy name may be praised," that is, by the righteous, who shall surround me with sympathizing joy (Ps 35:27).