Corpus Psalterium · Vol. VI
Psalm CXLII (142)
Cantillated — Cave Lament
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 142 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
A contemplation by David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer.
מַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְדָוִ֑ד בִּהְיוֹת֖וֹ בַמְּעָרָ֣ה תְפִלָּֽה׃
I cry with my voice to Yahweh. With my voice, I ask Yahweh for mercy.
ק֭וֹלִי אֶל־יְהוָ֣ה אֶזְעָ֑ק ק֝וֹלִ֗י אֶל־יְהוָ֥ה אֶתְחַנָּֽן׃
I pour out my complaint before him. I tell him my troubles.
אֶשְׁפֹּ֣ךְ לְפָנָ֣יו שִׂיחִ֑י צָ֝רָתִ֗י לְפָנָ֥יו אַגִּֽיד׃
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, you knew my route. On the path in which I walk, they have hidden a snare for me.
בְּהִתְעַטֵּ֬ף עָלַ֨י ׀ רוּחִ֗י וְאַתָּה֮ יָדַ֪עְתָּ נְֽתִיבָ֫תִ֥י בְּאֹֽרַח־ז֥וּ אֲהַלֵּ֑ךְ טָמְנ֖וּ פַ֣ח לִֽי׃
Look 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.
הַבֵּ֤יט יָמִ֨ין ׀ וּרְאֵה֮ וְאֵֽין־לִ֪י מַ֫כִּ֥יר אָבַ֣ד מָנ֣וֹס מִמֶּ֑נִּי אֵ֖ין דּוֹרֵ֣שׁ לְנַפְשִֽׁי׃
I cried to you, Yahweh. I said, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
זָעַ֥קְתִּי אֵלֶ֗יךָ יְה֫וָ֥ה אָ֭מַרְתִּי אַתָּ֣ה מַחְסִ֑י חֶ֝לְקִ֗י בְּאֶ֣רֶץ הַֽחַיִּים׃
Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need. Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.
הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה ׀ אֶֽל־רִנָּתִי֮ כִּֽי־דַלּ֪וֹתִ֫י מְאֹ֥ד הַצִּילֵ֥נִי מֵרֹדְפַ֑י כִּ֖י אָמְצ֣וּ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃
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.
ה֘וֹצִ֤יאָה מִמַּסְגֵּ֨ר ׀ נַפְשִׁי֮ לְהוֹד֪וֹת אֶת־שְׁ֫מֶ֥ךָ בִּ֭י יַכְתִּ֣רוּ צַדִּיקִ֑ים כִּ֖י תִגְמֹ֣ל עָלָֽי׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
Out loud I call to the LORD
(nobody's listening)
out loud I beg the LORD for mercy
(He can't hear you down here)
I pour my worry out in front of Him
(you're on your own)
I lay my trouble down at His feet
(on your own, on your own)
When the breath runs thin inside me
(they hid a snare, they hid a snare)
You already know the road I'm on
(nobody knows your name)
We cry, we cry to You
from the dark of this cave we cry
You're the place I hide
You're all I've got
here in the land of the living
On the path I walk they buried a snare
(look to your right)
I look to my right, there's nobody there
(nobody there)
not one face that knows my name
(not one)
no door to run to, not one soul looking out for me
(not one soul, not one soul)
When the breath runs thin inside me
(they hid a snare, they hid a snare)
You already know the road I'm on
(nobody knows your name)
We cry, we cry to You
from the dark of this cave we cry
You're the place I hide
You're all I've got
here in the land of the living
Hear me, I've been pushed down low
(too low, too low)
pull me from the ones who hunt me
(they're too strong)
they are stronger than I am
they are stronger than I am
Bring me out of this locked-up room
so I can thank Your name
The good ones will gather around me
they will gather around me
because You've been good to me
We cry, we cry to You
and now we're not alone
You're the place we hide
You're all we've got
here in the land of the living
We cry
we cry to You
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.