My Spirit Fails Within Me

Psalms 142

Composed while David's son pursued him, this prayer asks the Lord not to enter into judgment with his servant, describes his soul brought low and his spirit troubled as he remembers the works of God's hands, and pleads to be taught the Lord's will and delivered from his enemies through God's mercy.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonO LORD, hearken to my prayer! Listen to my supplication in Thy truth; answer me in Thy saving goodness;

BrentonA Psalm of David, when his son pursued him. O Lord, attend to my prayer: hearken to my supplication in thy truth; hear me in thy righteousness.

GreekΨαλμὸς τῷ Δαυὶδ, ὅτε αὐτὸν ὁ υἱὸς κατεδιώκει. Κύριε εἰσάκουσον τῆς προσευχῆς μου, ἐνώτισαι τὴν δέησίν μου ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ σου, ἐπάκουσόν μου ἐν τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ σου.

KJVHear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.

JPSA Psalm of David. O LORD, hear my prayer, give ear to my supplications; In Thy faithfulness answer me, and in Thy righteousness.

Thomsonand enter not into judgment with Thy servant; for in Thy sight no man living can be justified.

BrentonAnd enter not into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

GreekΚαὶ μὴ εἰσέλθῃς εἰς κρίσιν μετὰ τοῦ δούλου σου, ὅτι οὐ δικαιωθήσεται ἐνώπιόν σου πᾶς ζῶν.

KJVAnd enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

JPSAnd enter not into judgment with Thy servant; For in Thy sight shall no man living be justified.

ThomsonBecause the enemy hath earnestly sought my life—hath humbled my life to the ground—hath caused me to sit in dark places, like them who have been long dead;

BrentonFor the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has brought my life down to the ground; he has made me to dwell in a dark place, as those that have been long dead.

GreekὍτι κατεδίωξεν ὁ ἐχθρὸς τὴν ψυχήν μου· ἐταπείνωσεν εἰς τὴν γῆν τὴν ζωήν μου, ἐκάθισέ με ἐν σκοτεινοῖς ὡς νεκροὺς αἰῶνος,

KJVFor the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

JPSFor the enemy hath persecuted my soul; He hath crushed my life down to the ground; He hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

Thomsontherefore my spirit was overwhelmed with grief; my heart within me was troubled and

BrentonTherefore my spirit was grieved in me; my heart was troubled within me.

Greekκαὶ ἠκηδίασεν ἐπʼ ἐμὲ τὸ πνεῦμά μου· ἐν ἐμοὶ ἐταράχθη ἡ καρδία μου.

KJVTherefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.

JPSAnd my spirit fainteth within me; My heart within me is appalled.

ThomsonI remembered the days of old. I meditated on all Thy works—I mused on the works of Thy hands.

BrentonI remembered the days of old; and I meditated on all thy doings: yea, I meditated on the works of thine hands.

GreekἘμνήσθην ἡμερῶν ἀρχαίων· καὶ ἐμελέτησα ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις σου, ἐν ποιήμασι τῶν χειρῶν σου ἐμελέτων.

KJVI remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

JPSI remember the days of old; I meditate on all Thy doing; I muse on the work of Thy hands.

ThomsonI spread forth my hands to Thee; for Thee my soul thirsted like land without water.

BrentonI spread forth my hands to thee; my soul thirsts for thee, as a dry land. Pause.

GreekΔιεπέτασα πρὸς σὲ τὰς χεῖράς μου, ἡ ψυχή μου ὡς γῆ ἄνυδρός σοι· διάψαλμα.

KJVI stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

JPSI spread forth my hands unto Thee; My soul [thirsteth] after Thee, as a weary land. Selah

ThomsonHear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit hath failed. Turn not away Thy face from me; nor let me be like them who go down to the pit.

BrentonHear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit has failed; turn not away thy face from me, else I shall be like to them that go down to the pit.

GreekΤαχὺ εἰσάκουσόν μου, Κύριε, ἐξέλιπε τὸ πνεῦμά μου· μὴ ἀποστρέψῃς τὸ πρόσωπόν σου ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ, καὶ ὁμοιωθήσομαι τοῖς καταβαίνουσιν εἰς λάκκον.

KJVHear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

JPSAnswer me speedily, O LORD, My spirit faileth; Hide not Thy face from me; Lest I become like them that go down into the pit.

ThomsonCause me to hear Thy kindness in the morning; for in Thee I have placed my confidence. O Lord, let me know which way I shall go; for to Thee I have lifted up my soul.

BrentonCause me to hear thy mercy in the morning; for I have hoped in thee; make known to me, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk; for I have lifted up my soul to thee.

GreekἈκουστὸν ποίησόν μοι τοπρωῒ τὸ ἔλεός σου, ὅτι ἐπὶ σοὶ ἤλπισα· γνώρισόν μοι, Κύριε, ὁδὸν ἐν ᾗ πορεύσομαι, ὅτι πρὸς σὲ ᾖρα τὴν ψυχήν μου.

KJVCause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

JPSCause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning, For in Thee do I trust; Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, For unto Thee have I lifted up my soul.

ThomsonDeliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies; for to Thee I have fled for refuge.

BrentonDeliver me from mine enemies, O Lord; for I have fled to thee for refuge.

GreekἘξελοῦ με ἐκ τῶν ἐχθρῶν μου Κύριε, ὅτι πρὸς σὲ κατέφυγον.

KJVDeliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

JPSDeliver me from mine enemies, O LORD; With Thee have I hidden myself.

ThomsonTeach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my God. Let Thy good spirit lead me in the right way.

BrentonTeach me to do thy will; for thou art my God; thy good Spirit shall guide me in the straight way.

GreekΔίδαξόν με τοῦ ποιεῖν τὸ θέλημά σου, ὅτι Θεός μου εἶ σὺ, τὸ πνεῦμά σου τὸ ἁγαθὸν ὁδηγήσει με ἐν τῇ εὐθείᾳ.

KJVTeach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

JPSTeach me to do Thy will, For Thou art my God; Let Thy good spirit Lead me in an even land.

ThomsonFor the sake of Thy name, Thou, O Lord, wilt keep me alive—in Thy saving goodnesss Thou wilt bring my soul out of trouble,

BrentonThou shalt quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake; in thy righteousness thou shalt bring my soul out of affliction.

GreekἝνεκα τοῦ ὀνόματός σου, Κύριε, ζήσεις με, ἐν τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ σου ἐξάξεις ἐκ θλίψεως τὴν ψυχήν μου.

KJVQuicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

JPSFor Thy name's sake, O LORD, quicken me; In Thy righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.

Thomsonand in Thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul; for I am Thy servant.

BrentonAnd in thy mercy thou wilt destroy mine enemies, and wilt destroy all those that afflict my soul; for I am thy servant.

GreekΚαὶ ἐν τῷ ἐλέει σου ἐξολοθρεύσεις τοὺς ἐχθρούς μου, καὶ ἀπολεῖς πάντας τοὺς θλίβοντας τὴν ψυχήν μου, ὅτι δοῦλός σου εἰμὶ ἐγώ.

KJVAnd of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

JPSAnd in Thy mercy cut off mine enemies, And destroy all them that harass my soul; For I am Thy servant.