Psalm 142

A Psalm of instruction for David, when he was in the cave,--a Prayer.

¹ I cried to the Lord with my voice; with my voice I made supplication to the Lord. ² I will pour out before him my supplication: I will declare before him mine affliction. ³ When my spirit was fainting within me, then thou knewest my paths; in the very way wherein I was walking, they hid a snare for me. ⁴ I looked on my right hand, and behold, for there was none that noticed me; refuge failed me; and there was none that cared for my soul. ⁵ I cried unto thee, O Lord, and said, Thou art my hope, my portion in the land of the living. ⁶ Attend to my supplication, for I am brought very low; deliver me from them that persecute me; for they are stronger than I. ⁷ Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks to thy name, O Lord; the righteous shall wait for me, until thou recompense me.

Psalm 143

A Psalm of David, when his son pursued him.

¹ O Lord, attend to my prayer: hearken to my supplication in thy truth; hear me in thy righteousness. ² And enter not into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

³ For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has brought my life down to the ground; he has made me to dwell in a dark place, as those that have been long dead. ⁴ Therefore my spirit was grieved in me; my heart was troubled within me. ⁵ I remembered the days of old; and I meditated on all thy doings: yea, I meditated on the works of thine hands. ⁶ I spread forth my hands to thee; my soul thirsts for thee, as a dry land. Pause.

⁷ Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit has failed; turn not away thy face from me, else I shall be like to them that go down to the pit. ⁸ Cause me to hear thy mercy in the morning; for I have hoped in thee; make known to me, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk; for I have lifted up my soul to thee. ⁹ Deliver me from mine enemies, O Lord; for I have fled to thee for refuge. ¹⁰ Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God; thy good Spirit shall guide me in the

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¹straight way. ¹¹ Thou shalt quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake; in thy righteousness thou shalt bring my soul out of affliction. ¹² And in thy mercy thou wilt destroy mine enemies, and wilt destroy all those that afflict my soul; for I am thy servant.