Psalms 142:6

Listen to my cry, for I am brought quite low. Rescue me from my pursuers, for they are too strong for me.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist cries to the LORD, identifying Him as his refuge and portion in the land of the living, while actively fleeing those who harass him.

The words — The Hebrew imperative הַקְשִׁיבָ (hakshiḇā) commands God to pay attention, paired with דַלּוֹתִי (dalōṯî) to state the speaker has become exceedingly low.

The thread — This plea for deliverance from overwhelming pursuers echoes the low estate in Psalms 79:8, the preservation of the helpless in Psalms 116:6, and God's remembrance in low estate in Psalms 136:23.

Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment of human weakness and a direct appeal for divine intervention when human strength fails.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה׀hak.Shi.va/hpay attention/ !אֶֽל־'el-to רִנָּתִי֮ri.na.T/icry of entreaty/ my כִּֽי־ki-for דַלּ֪וֹתִ֫יda.Lo.TiI have become low מְאֹ֥דme.'Odexceedingly הַצִּילֵ֥נִיha.tzi.Le./nideliver/ me מֵרֹדְפַ֑יme./ro.de.Fa/ifrom/ [those who] harass/ me כִּ֖יkifor אָמְצ֣וּ'a.me.Tzuthey are [too] strong מִמֶּֽנִּי׃mi.Me./nifor/ me

King James Version

Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

Cross-references

Psalms 79:8 Do not hold past sins against us; let Your compassion come quickly, for we are brought low.
Psalms 116:6 The LORD preserves the simplehearted; I was helpless, and He saved me.
Psalms 136:23 He remembered us in our low estate His loving devotion endures forever.
Psalms 17:1 A prayer of David. Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer—it comes from lips free of deceit.
1 Samuel 24:14 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?
Psalms 3:1 A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom. O LORD, how my foes have increased! How many rise up against me!
Psalms 18:17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from foes too mighty for me.
Psalms 38:19 Many are my enemies without cause, and many hate me without reason.
Psalms 57:3 He reaches down from heaven and saves me; He rebukes those who trample me. Selah God sends forth His loving devotion and His truth.
Psalms 59:3 See how they lie in wait for me. Fierce men conspire against me for no transgression or sin of my own, O LORD.