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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comKeil and Delitzsch Commentary - Psalms 142:1 - 142:1
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The emphasis of the first two lines rests upon אֶל־ה. Forsaken by all created beings, he confides in Jahve. He turns to Him in pathetic and importunate prayer (זָעַק, the parallel word being הִתְחַנֵּן, as in Psa 30:9), and that not merely inwardly (Exo 14:15), but with his voice (vid., on Psa 3:5) - for audible prayer reacts soothingly, strengtheningly, and sanctifyingly upon the praying one - he pours out before Him his trouble which distracts his thoughts (שָׁפַךְ שִׂיחַ as in Psa 102:1, cf. Psa 62:9; Psa 64:2; 1Sa 1:16), he lays open before Him everything that burdens and distresses him. Not as though He did not also know it without all this; on the contrary, when his spirit (רוּחִי as in Psa 143:4; Psa 77:4, cf. נַפְשִׁי Jon 2:7, Psa 107:5, לִבִּי Psa 61:3) within him (עָלַי, see Psa 42:5) is enshrouded and languishes, just this is his consolation, that Jahve is intimately acquainted with his way together with the dangers that threaten him at every step, and therefore also understands how to estimate the title (right) and meaning of his complaints. The Waw of וְאַתָּה is the same as in 1Ki 8:36, cf. Ps 35. Instead of saying: then I comfort myself with the fact that, etc., he at once declares the fact with which he comforts himself. Supposing this to be the case, there is no need for any alteration of the text in order to get over that which is apparently incongruous in the relation of Psa 142:4 to Psa 142:4.