Psalms 142:4

Psalms 142:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Look on my right hand and see, For there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed me; No one cares for my soul.

Context of Psalms 142:4

2I tell him about all my problems. I tell him about all my troubles. 3When I do not feel brave, you are still my guide, Lord. In the path where I walk, my enemies have prepared a trap to catch me. Look at me! I have no friend to help me. There is no safe place where I can go. Nobody thinks about me. 5Yes Lord, I am calling to you to help me. You are my safe place where I can hide. You are all that I need in this world where I live. 6Please listen to me as I cry to you. I am very upset! My enemies are trying to catch me. Save me from their power! They are stronger than I am.

Psalms 142:4 word by word

הַבֵּ֤יט יָמִ֨ין׀ וּרְאֵה֮ וְאֵֽין־לִ֪י מַ֫כִּ֥יר אָבַ֣ד מָנ֣וֹס מִמֶּ֑נִּי אֵ֖ין דּוֹרֵ֣שׁ לְנַפְשִֽׁי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I lookedנָבַטnâbaţ · to lookH5027
• right handיָמִיןyâmîyn · rightH3225
• and beheldרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• no man that would knowנָכַרnâkar · to recognizeH5234
• me: refugeמָנוֹסmânôs · refugeH4498
• failedאָבַד'âbad · to perishH6
• me; no man caredדָּרַשׁdârash · to seekH1875
• for my soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315

Cross-references for Psalms 142:4

• Psalms 31:11All my enemies hate me. My friends insult me. Everyone who knows me is afraid of me. They run away when they see me in the street.
• Psalms 69:20When they insult me, it makes me very upset. I feel helpless. I hoped that someone would be kind and help me, but there was nobody. I wanted someone to comfort me, but I did not find anyone.
• Psalms 88:8You have caused my best friends to keep away from me. They do not even want to look at me. A trap has caught me and I cannot escape.
• Job 19:13God has caused my brothers to stay away from me. My friends do not want to meet me.
• Matthew 26:56The prophets wrote long ago that all this would happen to me. Now it has become true.’ Then all of Jesus' disciples ran away and left him.
• 2 Timothy 4:16I had to explain to a judge that I had not done anything wrong. The first time I did that, nobody helped me. All my friends stayed away. I pray that God will forgive them for that.
• 1 Samuel 23:11Will the leaders in Keilah give me to Saul? Will Saul really come here, as I have heard that he will? Lord, Israel's God, please tell me what will happen.’ The Lord said, ‘Saul will come.’
• 1 Samuel 27:1Then David thought, ‘I am sure that Saul will catch me one day. Then he will kill me. I must go to the country of the Philistines so that I will be safe from Saul. That is the best thing that I can do. When I am no longer in the land of Israel, Saul will stop looking for me here. I will escape from him.’

Commentaries on Psalms 142:4

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4I looked on my right hand, and beheld - Margin, “Look on the right hand and see The words translated “looked” and “beheld” are in the imperative mood in the Hebrew. They are not, however, improperly rendered as to the sense. They refer to David‘s state of mind at the time, and give vividness to the description. The psalmist seems to be in the presence of others. He calls upon them to look around; to see how he was encompassed with danger. Look, says he…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4The psalmist feels deep despair (see Psalm 77:3), and the Lord helps him in his distress. The psalmist trusts in the Lord's wisdom (see Psalm 139) but mourns being trapped by evil people (5:9–10; 140:5; 141:9; 142:3).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Utter desolation is meant. right hand--the place of a protector (Psa 110:5). cared for--literally, "sought after," to do good.Read the comment
• Rashi on Tanakh · v. 4and You know my path how many snares are in it.Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Prison
• Care; Carefulness; Careful
• Fail
• Psalms, Book of
• Maschil

Commentaries on Psalms 142

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary