Psalms 142 (DRB)

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Chapter Text

142:1 A psalm of David, when his son Absalom pursued him. Hear, O Lord, my prayer: give ear to my supplication in thy truth: hear me in thy justice.

142:2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight no man living shall be justified.

142:3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul: he hath brought down my life to the earth. He hath made me to dwell in darkness as those that have been dead of old:

142:4 And my spirit is in anguish within me: my heart within me is troubled.

142:5 I remembered the days of old, I meditated on all thy works: I meditated upon the works of thy hands.

142:6 I stretched forth my hands to thee: my soul is as earth without water unto thee.

142:7 Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit hath fainted away. Turn not away thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

142:8 Cause me to hear thy mercy in the morning; for in thee have I hoped. Make the way known to me, wherein I should walk: for I have lifted up my soul to thee.

142:9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, to thee have I fled:

142:10 Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God. Thy good spirit shall lead me into the right land:

142:11 for thy name's sake, O Lord, thou wilt quicken me in thy justice. Thou wilt bring my soul out of trouble:

142:12 And in thy mercy thou wilt destroy my enemies. And thou wilt cut off all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "justified", "Spirit", "darkness", "mercy", "psalm", "david", "absalom", and "pursued". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "justified" and "Spirit", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The local DRB text gives this verse as the immediate unit, so "justified" and "Spirit" carries the first interpretive weight. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "justified" and "Spirit" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.