Henry Ainsworth on Psalms 142:1-7

PSAL. CXLII.

An instructing Psalme of David: a praier when he was in the cave.

WIth my voice unto Iehovah did I cry, with my voice unto Iehovah did I supplicate for grace. I powred out before him my meditation, my distresse I did shew before him. When my spirit was overwhelmed within mee, then thou knewest my path: in the way that I walked they privily laid a snare for mee. I did looke on the right hand and see, & no man acknowledged me; refuge is perished from me, no man seeketh for my soule. I cried unto thee, Jehovah; I said, thou art my hope for safety, my portion in the land of the living. Attend unto my shouting, for I am brought very low; deliver mee from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I. Bring forth my soule out of the close prison, to confesse thy name; the just shall inviron me about, for thou wilt bounteously reward unto me.

Annotations. IN the cave] fled thither from the persecution of Saul, 1 Sam. 24. 4, &c. Vers. 4. was overwhelmed] or, swowned, fainted: see Psal. 77. 4. then thou] Hebr. and thou: so, And he saith, Mark. 14. 34. is expounded, Then he saith, Matth. 26. 38. Vers. 5. I did looke] or, Looke thou, &c. continuing his complaint to God. But the Greeke turneth it, I considered: and the Hebrew Looke thou, or To looke, is often resolved by other definite persons: see the notes on Ps. 22. 9. and 49. 15. and 65. 11. & 77. 2. & 103. 20. and see] or, and behold, to wit, on the left hand. refuge] or flight. is perished frō me] that is, faileth me: I have no place to flie unto and escape. So Iob 11. 20. Amos 2. 14. seeketh] that is, careth for: so Prov. 29. 10. usually to seeke the soule, is in the ill part to destroy it: see Ps. 35. 4. Vers. 7. brought low] or weakned: see Ps. 116. 6. Vers. 8. the prison] the cave wherein I am shut up close. inviron] compasse, as Psal. 22. 13. or, expect, as Iob 36. 2. and so the Greeke translateth, the just shall wait for me, untill thou reward me. See Psa. 13. 6. The Chaldee saith, for my sake the just shall make thee a crowne of praise, because thou wilt render a good reward unto me.