TRV
Translation
King James Version
¶ 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.
Complete Jewish Bible
A maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A prayer: With my voice I cry to ADONAI, with my voice I plead to ADONAI for mercy.
American Standard Version
I cry with my voice unto Jehovah; With my voice unto Jehovah do I make supplication.
World English Bible Messianic
I cry with my voice to the LORD. With my voice, I ask the LORD for mercy.
Geneva Bible (1599)
A Psalme of David, to give instruction, and a prayer, when he was in the cave. I cryed vnto the Lord with my voyce: with my voyce I prayed vnto the Lord.
Young's Literal Translation
An 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.
In the KJVVerse 16,288 of 31,102
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Commentary on Psalms 142 verses 1–3
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.
2 I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.
3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.
Whether it was in the cave of Adullam, or that of Engedi, that David prayed this prayer, is not material; it is plain that he was in distress. It was a great disgrace to so great a soldier, so great a courtier, to be put to such shifts for his own safety, and a great terror to be so hotly pursued and every moment in expectation of death; yet then he had such a presence of mind as to pray this prayer, and, wherever he was, still had his religion about him. Prayers and tears were his weapons, and, when he durst not stretch forth his hands against his prince, he lifted them up to his God. There is no cave so deep, so dark, but we may out of it send up our prayers, and our souls in prayer, to God. He calls this prayer Maschil - a psalm of instruction, because of the good lessons he had himself learnt in the cave, learnt on his knees, which he desired to teach others. In these verses observe,
I. How David complained to God, Psa 142:1, Psa 142:2. When the danger was over he was not ashamed to own (as great spirits sometimes are) the fright he had been in and the application he had made to God. Let no men of the first rank think it any diminution or disparagement to them, when they are in affliction, to cry to God, and to cry like children to their parents when any thing frightens them. David poured out his complaint, which denotes a free and full complaint; he was copious and particular in it. His heart was as full of his grievances as it could hold, but he made himself easy by pouring them out before the Lord; and this he did with great fervency: He cried unto the Lord with his voice, with the voice of his mind (so some think), for, being hidden in the cave, he durst not speak with an audible voice, lest that should betray him; but mental prayer is vocal to God, and he hears the groanings which cannot, or dare not, be uttered, Rom 8:26. Two things David laid open to God, in this complaint: - 1. His distress. He exhibited a remonstrance or memorial of his case: I showed before him my trouble, and all the circumstances of it. He did not prescribe to God, nor show him his trouble, as if God did not know it without his showing; but as one that put a confidence in God, desired to keep up communion with him, and was willing to refer himself entirely to him, he unbosomed himself to him, humbly laid the matter before him, and then cheerfully left it with him. We are apt to show our trouble too much to ourselves, aggravating it, and poring upon it, which does us no service, whereas by showing it to God we might cast the care upon him who careth for us, and thereby ease ourselves. Nor should we allow of any complaint to ourselves or others which we cannot with due decency and sincerity of devotion make to God, and stand to before him. 2. His desire. When he made his complaint he made his supplication (Psa 142:1), not claiming relief as a debt, but humbly begging it as a favour. Complainants must be suppliants, for God will be sought unto.
II. What he complained of: "In the way wherein I walked, suspecting no danger, have they privily laid a snare for me, to entrap me." Saul gave Michal his daughter to David on purpose that she might be a snare to him, Sa1 18:21. This he complains of to God, that every thing was done with a design against him. If he had gone out of his way, and met with snares, he might have thanked himself; but when he met with them in the way of his duty he might with humble boldness tell God of them.
III. What comforted him in the midst of these complaints (Psa 142:3): "When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, and ready to sink under the burden of grief and fear, when I was quite at a loss and ready to despair, then thou knewest my path, that is, then it was a pleasure to me to think that thou knewest it. Thou knewest my sincerity, the right path which I have walked in, and that I am not such a one as my persecutors represent me. Thou knewest my condition in all the particulars of it; when my spirit was so overwhelmed that I could not distinctly show it, this comforted me, that thou knewest it, Job 23:10. Thou knewest it, that is, thou didst protect, preserve, and secure it," Psa 31:7; Deu 2:7.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–3. Public domain.
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Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 142
..."With my voice have I cried unto the Lord" [Psalm 142:1]. It were enough to say, "with voice:" not for nothing perhaps has "my" been added. For many cry unto the Lord, not with their own voice, but with the voice of their body. Let the "inner man" then, in whom "Christ" has begun to "dwell by faith," [Ephesians 3:17] cry unto the Lord, not with the din of his lips, but with the affection of his heart. God hears not, where man hears: unless you cry with the voice of lungs and side and tongue, man hears you not: your thought is your cry to the Lord. "With my voice have I prayed unto the Lord." What he meant by, "I have cried," he explained when he said, "I have prayed." For they too who blaspheme, cry unto the Lord. In the former part he set down his crying, in the latter he explained what it was. As though it were demanded, With what cry have you cried unto the Lord? Unto the Lord, says he, I have prayed. My cry is my prayer, not reviling, not murmuring, not blaspheming.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 142:1 introduces a profound prayer of distress and desperate reliance, attributed to David and designated as a "Maschil"—an instructional or contemplative psalm. The superscription immediately transports the reader to a moment of extreme vulnerability and isolation, as David cries out to the Lord from the confines of a cave, emphasizing his earnest and vocal supplication in a time of profound personal danger and helplessness. This verse sets the stage for a heartfelt lament that serves as both an outpouring of anguish and a testament to unwavering trust in God amidst overwhelming circumstances.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The opening verse of Psalm 142 employs several significant literary devices that enrich its meaning and emotional impact. The Superscription itself serves as a crucial framing device, immediately establishing the psalm's authorship, its genre as a Maschil (didactic or contemplative), and the specific, dire historical context ("when he was in the cave"). This sets the emotional and theological stage for the entire prayer, inviting the reader to learn from David's experience. Within the prayer itself, the most prominent device is Repetition, specifically the emphatic reiteration of "with my voice unto the LORD." This is not mere redundancy but a powerful rhetorical technique that underscores the intensity, earnestness, and directness of David's desperate appeal. It highlights that his prayer was not a silent meditation but a vocal, fervent outpouring from the depths of his being, engaging his entire person. Furthermore, the two main clauses of the prayer ("I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication") exhibit clear Synonymous Parallelism. The second clause restates and reinforces the meaning of the first, intensifying the sense of a desperate, earnest plea for divine intervention and emphasizing the unified nature of David's cry and supplication. Finally, the "cave" functions as potent Symbolism, representing not just a physical hiding place but also a metaphorical space of isolation, vulnerability, danger, and profound helplessness, from which David's only recourse is to cry out to God.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 142:1 lays the theological groundwork for understanding prayer as a direct, earnest, and often vocal cry to God, especially in moments of extreme distress and isolation. It highlights that true refuge and help are found not in human strength, clever strategies, or favorable circumstances, but solely and exclusively in the Lord. This verse underscores the profound paradox that vulnerability can be the very pathway to deeper dependence on God, transforming a place of despair (the cave) into a sanctuary where divine encounter occurs. It affirms God's attentiveness to the desperate pleas of His children, establishing a pattern of lament that moves from anguish to trust—a hallmark of many psalms and a foundational aspect of biblical faith. This profound reliance on God as the ultimate deliverer is a central theme throughout the Psalter and the broader biblical narrative, demonstrating that even the greatest heroes of faith experienced moments of utter helplessness, yet found their strength and salvation in Yahweh alone.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 142:1 offers profound encouragement and practical guidance for believers navigating their own "caves" of despair, isolation, or overwhelming difficulty in contemporary life. It reminds us that our most desperate moments are not barriers to prayer but rather powerful catalysts for it, inviting us into a deeper, more authentic communion with God. There is immense spiritual value in expressing our deepest fears, anguish, and needs directly and vocally to God, just as David did. This verse challenges us to move beyond silent, perhaps even resigned, contemplation when our souls are overwhelmed and to engage our whole being—our voice, our will, our desperation—in a fervent cry to the Lord. It offers immense reassurance that no matter how isolated, vulnerable, or helpless our circumstances may feel, God is attentive to the sincere, earnest prayers of His children. Furthermore, it highlights that times of extreme vulnerability, though undeniably painful, can become profound opportunities for spiritual growth, deepening our absolute reliance on God as our ultimate deliverer and refuge. When all other avenues of human help are closed, the "cave" ironically becomes the very place where we discover God's unshakeable sufficiency and unwavering presence.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "Maschil" mean in the superscription?
Answer: "Maschil" (Hebrew: maskîyl) is a technical term found in the superscriptions of 13 Psalms, including Psalm 142. It generally means "instructive," "contemplative," or "didactic." It suggests that the psalm is intended to impart wisdom, understanding, or insight, often derived from a deep personal experience of suffering or revelation. In the case of Psalm 142, it implies that David's desperate prayer from the cave is not just a personal lament but a divinely inspired lesson for others on how to pray, trust God, and find refuge in times of extreme distress and isolation.
Which "cave" is Psalm 142:1 referring to historically?
Answer: While the superscription does not specify a particular cave, biblical scholars generally associate this psalm with David's flight from King Saul, who relentlessly pursued him. The most commonly suggested historical locations are the cave of Adullam or the caves of En-gedi. Both narratives depict David in a state of extreme vulnerability, hiding from his persecutor, and relying solely on God for protection and deliverance. Therefore, the "cave" serves as a powerful symbol of his isolation, danger, and utter dependence on divine intervention, rather than a single, definitively identified geographical location.
Why is the phrase "with my voice unto the LORD" repeated in this verse?
Answer: The repetition of "with my voice unto the LORD" serves as a powerful literary device to emphasize the intensity, earnestness, and directness of David's prayer. It highlights that his cry was not a silent, internal meditation but a fervent, vocal outpouring from the depths of his being. This double emphasis underscores the desperation of his situation and his complete engagement in seeking God's help. It signifies that his entire being—his physical voice and his spiritual will—was directed towards Yahweh in a moment of profound need, making his supplication undeniable and deeply personal. It also conveys the sheer volume and urgency of his desperate appeal.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 142:1, with its raw depiction of David's desperate cry from the "cave" of isolation and peril, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the life and redemptive work of Jesus. Just as David, the anointed king, was driven to a place of utter vulnerability and isolation, so too was Jesus, the true King and Son of David, led into moments of profound distress where He cried out to His Father. We witness this most vividly in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus, "being in agony... prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground." This was a cry from His own "cave" of impending suffering and isolation, echoing David's fervent plea for deliverance. The author of Hebrews powerfully notes that Jesus "offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death" (Hebrews 5:7), demonstrating His full humanity and identification with our desperate cries. Ultimately, David's cry from the cave foreshadows the ultimate cry of the Lamb of God from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46), a cry that plumbed the depths of human and divine abandonment, yet was ultimately heard and answered in the resurrection. Jesus, our great High Priest, understands our cries from our "caves" of despair because He Himself experienced the deepest human anguish and now intercedes for us from the heavenly sanctuary (Hebrews 7:25), making our desperate supplications heard and answered by the Father, securing our ultimate deliverance.