The big picture
Psalms 142 opens in verse 1 with “I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 4 with “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge…”, and closes in verse 7 with “Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, cried, refuge, soul, voice. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 7Psalms 142:1-7
1–7: I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I…
Psalms 142:1–7 opens with “I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.” and reaches “Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, cried, refuge.
Context that brings the passage to life
“I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, voice, cried. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
“I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.” The line’s distinctive content terms include complaint, poured, shewed. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.
Psalms 142:1-7
King James Version1I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.
2I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.
3When 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.
4I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.
5I cried unto thee, O LORD : I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
6Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
7Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 142:1 begins with “I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 142:4 forms a natural hinge: “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.”
The final note
Psalms 142:7 leaves the reader with “Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, cried, refuge, soul, voice, Attend help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.