Psalms 142 · Verse 1

Psalms 142:1

Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave. I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.
Psalms 142:1, King James Version

Psalms 142:1 in other translations

BSBA Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A prayer. I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift my voice to the LORD for mercy.
WEBA 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.
ASVMaschil of David, when he was in the cave; a Prayer. I cry with my voice unto Jehovah; With my voice unto Jehovah do I make supplication.
YLTAn Instruction of David, a Prayer when he is in the cave. My voice is unto Jehovah, I cry, My voice is unto Jehovah, I entreat grace.
DARBYAn instruction of David; when he was in the cave: a prayer. I cry unto Jehovah with my voice: with my voice unto Jehovah do I make supplication.
BBEThe sound of my cry went up to the Lord; with my voice I made my prayer for grace to the Lord.
WebsterMaschil of David; a prayer when he was in the cave. I cried to the LORD with my voice; with my voice to the LORD I made my supplication.

What does Psalms 142:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Psa 142:1-7. Maschil--(See on Psa 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.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The psalmist, in great distress and difficulty, calls upon God, Psa 142:1-7. The title says, "An Instruction of David," or a Psalm of David giving instruction; "A Prayer when he was in the cave." David was twice in great peril in caves. 1. At the cave of Adullam, when he fled from Achish, king of Gath, 1 Samuel 22. 2. When he was in the cave of En-gedi, where he had taken refuge from the pursuit of Saul; and the latter, without knowing that David was in it, had gone into it on some necessary occasion, 1 Samuel 24. If the inscription can be depended on, the cave of En-gedi is the most likely of the two, for the scene laid here. But were there doubts concerning the legitimacy of the title, I should refer the Psalm to the state of the captives in Babylon, to which a great part of the Psalms refer. Bishop Horsley calls it "A Prayer of the Messiah taken and deserted." It may be so: but where is the evidence, except in the conjectural system of Origen. Verse 1 I cried unto the Lord - See on Psa 141:1 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
David's comfort in prayer. --There can be no situation so distressing or dangerous, in which faith will not get comfort from God by prayer. We are apt to show our troubles too much to ourselves, poring upon them, which does us no service; whereas, by showing them to God, we might cast the cares upon him who careth for us, and thereby ease ourselves. Nor should we allow any complaint to ourselves or others, which we cannot make to God. When our spirits are overwhelmed by distress, and filled with discouragement; when we see snares laid for us on every side, while we walk in his way, we may reflect with comfort that the Lord knoweth our path. Those who in sincerity take the Lord for their God, find him all-sufficient, as a Refuge, and as a Portion: every thing else is a refuge of lies, and a portion of no value. In this situation David prayed earnestly to God. We may apply it spiritually; the souls of believers are often straitened by doubts and fears. And it is then their duty and interest to beg of God to set them at liberty, that they may run the way of his commandments. Thus the Lord delivered David from his powerful persecutors, and dealt bountifully with him. Thus he raised the crucified Redeemer to the throne of glory, and made him Head over all things for his church. Thus the convinced sinner cries for help, and is brought to praise the Lord in the company of his redeemed people; and thus all believers will at length be delivered from this evil world, from sin and death, and praise their Saviour for ever.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 142:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ק֭וֹלִיKo.livoice myH6963
אֶל\־'el-toH413
יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahwehH3068
אֶזְעָ֑ק'ez.'AkI cry outH2199
ק֝וֹלִ֗יko.Livoice myH6963
אֶל\־'el-toH413
יְהוָ֥הYah.wehYahwehH3068
אֶתְחַנָּֽן\׃'et.cha.NanI seek favorH2603

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 142:1

  • Psalms 30:8

    I cried to thee, O Lord; and unto the Lord I made supplication.

  • Psalms 57:1

    To the chief Musician, Al–taschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

  • Psalms 141:1

    A Psalm of David. Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.

  • Psalms 77:1-2

    To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph. I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.

  • 1 Chronicles 4:10

    And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

  • 1 Samuel 24:3

    And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

  • Psalms 54:1

    To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.

  • Psalms 32:1

    A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

  • Psalms 28:2

    Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.

  • 1 Samuel 22:1-2

    David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him. And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

  • Hebrews 11:38

    (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 David shews that in his trouble all his comfort was in prayer unto God.

A.M. 2942. B.C. 1062. (Title.) Maschil of David. or, APsalm of David giving instruction.
32:1; 54:1; 57:1; *titles
1Ch 4:10
A Prayer.David was twice in great peril in caves: on one occasion, in the cave of Adullam, when he fled from Achish king of Gath; and on another, in the cave of Engedi, where he had taken refuge from the pursuit of Saul. It is not certain to which of these events this Psalm refers; though probably to the former.
when he was.
1Sa 22:1,2; 24:3; Heb 11:38
with my voice.
28:2; 77:1,2; 141:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 142:1

    Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave. I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.

  • Psalms 142:2

    I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.

Read all of Psalms 142

Psalms 142:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Masquil de David: Oración que hizo cuando estaba en la cueva. CON mi voz clamaré á Jehová, con mi voz pediré á Jehová misericordia.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Instruction de David; lorsqu’il était dans la caverne. Prière.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Mit meiner Stimme schreie ich zu Jehova, mit meiner Stimme flehe ich zu Jehova.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Psalmus David, quando persequebatur eum Absalom filius ejus. Domine, exaudi orationem meam; auribus percipe obsecrationem meam in veritate tua; exaudi me in tua justitia.