Psalms 142:6
in Psalms 142Listen to my cry, for I am brought quite low. Rescue me from my pursuers, for they are too strong for me.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Attend unto my cry; For I am brought very low: Deliver me from my persecutors; For they are stronger than I.
KJV
Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
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This verse in Psalms 142
Commentary
11 notes on this verseAttend to my supplication, for I have been humbled exceedingly. Unless someone has been humbled, he is not heard by the Lord. For what does it profit anyone to pray with words and to keep his neck held erect? But if we understand it of the Lord: "Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart."
This site's exposition
You are my refuge, my portion
on Psalms 142:5-6
The LORD is named refuge and portion, and cheleq is the word for an allotted share of land. The allotment claimed here is the LORD himself in the land of the living. Verse 6 asks rescue from pursuers too strong for him.
This site's exposition
for I am brought quite low
Each request in this verse carries its reason, and Charles Spurgeon saw David make his low state the argument for a hearing. Albert Barnes took brought quite low as the language of a man reduced from better days to want. The weakness itself becomes the plea.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"Give heed unto my prayer, for much have I been humbled" (ver. 6). Humbled by persecutors, humbled in confession. He humbleth himself out of the sight of man: he is humbled by enemies in their sight. Therefore is he lifted up by Him both visibly and invisibly. Invisibly are the martyrs already lifted up; visibly shall they be lifted up, "when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption" in the resurrection of the dead; when this very part of him, against which alone her persecutors could rage, shall be renewed. "Fear not them that kill the body, but cannot kill the soul." And what perisheth? what kill they? ...Why then art thou anxious about the rest of thy members, when thou shall not lose even a hair? "Deliver me from them that persecute me." From whom thinkest thou that he prayeth to be delivered? From men who persecuted him? Is it so? are merely men our enemies? We have other enemies, invisible, who persecute us in another way. Man persecuteth, that he may slay the body; another persecuteth, that he ensnare the soul. ...There are then other enemies of ours too, from whom we ought to pray God to deliver us, lest they lead us astray, either by crushing us with troubles of this world, or alluring us by its enticements. Who are these enemies? Let us see whether they are plainly described by any servant of the Lord, by any soldier, now perfected, who hath engaged with them. Hear the Apostle saying, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood:" as though he would say, Turn not your hatred against men; think not them your enemies; think not that it is by their hostility you are being bruised; these men whom ye fear are flesh and blood. ..."For they are strengthened over me." Who said, "they are strengthened over me"? […]
Deliver me from those who persecute me, for they have been made stronger than I. Those who fight against us are stronger than we are, that is, the princes of this world.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
This is the greatest comfort of temporal mercies that they furnish us with matter, and give us opportunity, for the excellent duty of praise. (2.) By the thanksgivings of many on his behalf ( 2 Cor. i. 11 ): "When I am enlarged the righteous shall encompass me about; for my cause they shall make thee a crown of praise, so the Chaldee.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
Attend unto my cry,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Attend unto my cry. Men of God look upon prayer as a reality, and they are not content without having an audience with God; moreover, they have such confidence in the Lord's condescending grace, that they hope he will even attend to that poor broken prayer which can only be described as a cry. For I am brought very low, and therefore all the prayer I can raise is a mournful cry. This is his argument with God: he is reduced to such a sad condition that if he be not rescued he will be ruined.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Attend unto my cry. Men of God look upon prayer as a reality, and they are not content without having an audience with God; moreover, they have such confidence in the Lord's condescending grace, that they hope he will even attend to that poor broken prayer which can only be described as a cry. For I am brought very low, and therefore all the prayer I can raise is a mournful cry. This is his argument with God: he is reduced to such a sad condition that if he be not rescued he will be ruined. Gracious men may not only be low, but very low; and this should not be a reason for their doubting the efficacy of their prayers, but rather a plea with the Lord why they should have special attention. Deliver me from my persecutors. If he did not get out of their hands, they would soon kill him out of hand, and as he could not himself effect an escape, he cried to God, "deliver me." For they are stronger than I. As he before found a plea in his sadness, so now in his feebleness: Saul and his courtiers were in power, and could command the aid of all who sought royal favour; but poor David was in the cave, and every Nabal girded at him. Saul was a monarch, and David a fugitive; Saul had all the forms of law on his side, while David was an outlaw: so that the prayer before us comes from the weak, who proverbially go to the wall, —a good place to go to if they turn their faces to it in prayer, as Hezekiah did in his sickness. The Lord is wont to take the side of the oppressed, and to show his power by baffling tyrants; David's supplication was therefore sure to speed. In these sentences we see how explicitly the man of God described his case in his private communings with his Lord: in real earnest he poured out his complaint before him and showed before him his trouble.
I am brought very low - Never was I so near total ruin before. Deliver me from my persecutors - They are now in full possession of the only means of my escape. They are stronger than I - What am I and my men against this well-appointed armed multitude, with their king at their head.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Attend unto my cry - Give ear to me when I cry to thee. Do not turn away and refuse to hear me. For I am brought very low - I am reduced greatly; I am made very poor. The language would be applicable to one who had been in better circumstances, and who had been brought down to a condition of danger, of poverty, of want. It is language which is commonly applied to poverty. Deliver me from my persecutors - Saul and his followers. For they are stronger than I - More in number; better armed; better suited for battle.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
no one recognizes me Among all of Saul’s servants, there is no one who protests against him.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 7 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה׀ | hakshivah | pay attention ! | H7181 → | 46 times |
| אֶֽל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| רִנָּתִי֮ | rinati | cry of entreaty my | H7440 → | 33 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| דַלּ֪וֹתִ֫י | daloti | I have become low | H1809 → | 9 times |
| מְאֹ֥ד | meod | exceedingly | H3966 → | 300 times |
| הַצִּילֵ֥נִי | hatzileni | deliver me | H5337 → | 212 times |
| מֵרֹדְפַ֑י | merodefai | from [those who] harass me | H7291 → | 143 times |
| כִּ֖י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| אָמְצ֣וּ | ʾametzu | they are [too] strong | H553 → | 41 times |
| מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ | mimeni | for me | H4480 → | 1188 times |
הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה׀pay attention !
hakshivahH7181 →46 times
אֶֽל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
רִנָּתִי֮cry of entreaty my
rinatiH7440 →33 times
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
דַלּ֪וֹתִ֫יI have become low
dalotiH1809 →9 times
מְאֹ֥דexceedingly
meodH3966 →300 times
הַצִּילֵ֥נִיdeliver me
hatzileniH5337 →212 times
מֵרֹדְפַ֑יfrom [those who] harass me
merodefaiH7291 →143 times
כִּ֖יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
אָמְצ֣וּthey are [too] strong
ʾametzuH553 →41 times
מִמֶּֽנִּי׃for me
mimeniH4480 →1188 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 136:23He remembered us in our low estate His loving devotion endures forever.
it leads to
- Isaiah 63:9
In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days…
- Luke 1:48
For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.
- Isaiah 63:9
Through
Psalms 79:8Do not hold past sins against us; let Your compassion come quickly, for we are brought low.
it leads to
- Isaiah 64:9
Do not be angry, O LORD, beyond measure; do not remember our iniquity forever. Oh, look upon us, we pray; we are all Your people!
- Psalms 116:6
The LORD preserves the simplehearted; I was helpless, and He saved me.
- Isaiah 64:9
Through
Psalms 116:6The LORD preserves the simplehearted; I was helpless, and He saved me.
it leads to
- Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
- Psalms 19:7
The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.
- Psalms 79:8
Do not hold past sins against us; let Your compassion come quickly, for we are brought low.
- Matthew 11:25
Through
Psalms 17:1Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer— it comes from lips free of deceit.
it leads to
- Psalms 61:1
Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer.
- Psalms 61:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Psalms
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 142; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 7; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; Jerome, Homily 52, on Psalm 141; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.