Prayers, Songs, Praises: Psalm 142

A Cry of Distress

A Maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer.

142:1 I cry aloud to the Lord;

I plead aloud to the Lord for mercy.

2 I pour out my complaint before him;

I reveal my trouble to him.

3 Although my spirit is weak within me,

you know my way.
Along this path I travel
they have hidden a trap for me.

4 Look to the right and see:

no one stands up for me;
there is no refuge for me;
no one cares about me.

5 I cry to you, Lord;

I say, “You are my shelter,

my portion in the land of the living.”

6 Listen to my cry,

for I am very weak.

Rescue me from those who pursue me,

for they are too strong for me.

7 Free me from prison

so that I can praise your name.

The righteous will gather around me

because you deal generously with me.

CSB

Prayers, Songs, Praises: Psalm 141

Protection from Sin and Sinners

A psalm of David.

141:1 Lord, I call on you; hurry to help me.
Listen to my voice when I call on you.

2 May my prayer be set before you as incense,
the raising of my hands as the evening offering.

3 Lord, set up a guard for my mouth;

keep watch at the door of my lips.

4 Do not let my heart turn to any evil thing

or perform wicked acts with evildoers.

Do not let me feast on their delicacies.

5 Let the righteous one strike me—

it is an act of faithful love;

let him rebuke me—

it is oil for my head;

let me not refuse it.

Even now my prayer is against

the evil acts of the wicked.

6 When their rulers will be thrown off

the sides of a cliff,

the people will listen to my words,

for they are pleasing.

7 As when one plows and breaks up the soil,
turning up rocks,
so our bones have been scattered
at the mouth of Sheol.

8 But my eyes look to you, Lord, my Lord.
I seek refuge in you; do not let me die.

9 Protect me from the trap they have set for me,
and from the snares of evildoers.

10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while I pass by safely.

CSB