Mazmur 142:4-7

142:4 Look to the right and see!

No one cares about me. ¹ 

I have nowhere to run; ² 

no one is concerned about my life. ³ 

142:5 I cry out to you, O Lord;

I say, “You are my shelter,

my security ⁴  in the land of the living.”

142:6 Listen to my cry for help,

for I am in serious trouble! ⁵ 

Rescue me from those who chase me,

for they are stronger than I am.

142:7 Free me ⁶  from prison,

that I may give thanks to your name.

Because of me the godly will assemble, ⁷ 

for you will vindicate me. ⁸ 

[142:4]  ¹ tn Heb “there is no one who recognizes me.”

[142:4]  ² tn Heb “ a place of refuge perishes from me.”

[142:4]  ³ tn Heb “there is no one who seeks for the sake of my life.”

[142:5]  ⁴ tn Heb “my portion.” The psalmist compares the Lord to landed property, which was foundational to economic stability in ancient Israel.

[142:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “for I am very low.”

[142:7]  ⁶ tn Heb “bring out my life.”

[142:7]  ⁷ tn Or “gather around.”

[142:7]  ⁸ tn The Hebrew idiom גָּמַל עַל (gamal ’al) means “to repay,” here in a positive sense.