Psalm 142:1-7, Psalm 57:1-3 NIV

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 142:3

(3) When my spirit.—Literally, in the muffling upon me of my spirit. When my spirit was so wrapped in trouble and gloom, so “muffled round with woe” that I could not see the path before me, was distracted and unable to chose a. line of conduct, Thou (emphatic) knewest my path. (Comp. for the same verb Psalms 61:2; Psalms 77:3.) read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 142:4

(4) I looked.—The Authorised Version follows the ancient versions in turning the Hebrew imperatives into historic tenses. But they are easily intelligible if taken rhetorically, and indeed the psalm loses in liveliness by missing them:“On the path by which I must walk they have laid a trap for me;Look to the right and see,Not a friend is in sight.Failed has refuge from me,There is none who careth for my soul.”To the “right,” because according to the regular Hebrew metaphor it was on the “right... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 142:5

(5) With this verse comp. Psalms 31:3; Psalms 22:8; Psalms 16:5, &c. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 142:7

(7) Out of prison.—This expression, which must certainly be figurative of distress (comp. Psalms 143:11), probably led to the inscription.Compass me about.—The Hebrew word here employed is used in a hostile sense in Psalms 22:12; Judges 20:43; Habakkuk 1:4. It is better, therefore, to follow the LXX. and render:“In my case the righteous are waitingTill,” &cThis sense “waiting for,” besides being favoured by the construction, suits well the passage, Proverbs 14:18.“The simple inherit... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Psalms 142:1-7

The Hundred and Forty-second Psalm Psalms 142:0 I. Life and liberty are sweet but we may pay too dear a price even for the sweetest things. David is now at liberty; he has escaped out of the prison-house of Gath; but he has made his escape and obtained his liberty at much too great a price. For years past the name of Gath had been the proudest name that David's flatterers could speak in his willing ears. But after his disgraceful escape from that city to David's old age, it brought a cloud to... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Psalms 142:1-7

Psalms 142:1-7THE superscription not only calls this a psalm of David’s, but specifies the circumstances of its composition. It breathes the same spirit of mingled fear and faith which characterises many earlier psalms, but one fails to catch the unmistakable note of freshness, and there are numerous echoes of preceding singers. This psalmist has as deep sorrows as his predecessors, and as firm a grasp of Jehovah, his helper. His song runs naturally in well-worn channels, and is none the less... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Psalms 142:1-7

Psalm 140-142 These three Psalms are Psalms of David. The third one in this series, 142 is another Maschil, the last Maschil Psalm, being a prayer when David was in the cave. In these Psalms the distress of Israel, the godly remnant of Israel, is again remembered. In Psalms 140:1-13 we see prophetically the evil and violent man, that man of sin of the last days. And therefore have we one more imprecatory prayer for the destruction of the wicked (verse 10). The last verses look forward to the... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Psalms 142:1

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 {a} make my supplication.(a) David’s patience and constant prayer to God condemns their wicked rage, who in their troubles either despair and murmur against God, or else seek other than God, to have relief in their miseries. read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Psalms 142:5

142:5 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou [art] my {b} refuge [and] my portion in the land of the living.(b) Though all means failed him, yet he knew that God would never forsake him. read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Psalms 142:7

142:7 Bring my soul out of {c} prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall {d} compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.(c) For he was on all sides beset with his enemies as though he had been in a severe prison.(d) Either to rejoice at my wonderful deliverer, or to set a crown on my head. read more

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 142:3

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 142:4

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 142:5

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 142:7

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Psalms 142:1-7

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Psalms 142:1-7

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Psalms 142:1-7

Geneva Study Bible - Psalms 142:1

Geneva Study Bible - Psalms 142:5

Geneva Study Bible - Psalms 142:7

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