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英文原文
This psalm is a prayer, the substance of which David offered up to God when he was forced by Saul to take shelter in a cave, and which he afterwards penned in this form. Here is, I. The complaint he makes to God (Ps 142:1,2) of the subtlety, strength, and malice, of his enemies (Ps 142:3,6), and the coldness and indifference of his friends, Ps 142:4. II. The comfort he takes in God that he knew his case (Ps 142:3) and was his refuge, Ps 142:5. III. His expectation from God that he would hear and deliver him, Ps 142:6,7. IV His expectation from the righteous that they would join with him in praises, Ps 142:7. Those that are troubled in mind, body, or estate, may, in singing this psalm (if they sing it in some measure with David's spirit), both warrant his complaints and fetch in his comforts.
1-3
David's Complaints
繁體中文
大衛的苦訴
大衛的訓誨詩。他在洞中所作的禱告。
¹ 我發聲哀告耶和華；我發聲懇求耶和華。 ² 我在他面前吐露我的苦情；陳說我的患難。 ³ 我的靈在我裏面發昏的時候，你知道我的道路。在我行的路上，他們暗暗為我設下網羅。
大衛這禱告究竟是在亞杜蘭洞、還是隱基底洞所作，並不要緊；要緊的是他當時在患難之中。對如此偉大的戰士、如此偉大的朝臣而言，被迫為自身的安全而如此東躲西藏，實在是極大的恥辱；被如此窮追不捨、時刻預料死亡，更是極大的驚嚇；然而那時他仍保持著鎮定的心思來獻上這禱告，並且無論身在何處，身邊總不離他的信仰。禱告與眼淚是他的兵器；當他不敢伸手攻擊他的君王之時，他便向他的神舉起手來。沒有一個洞是如此深、如此暗，使我們不能在其中將禱告——並我們在禱告中的靈魂——升到神面前。他稱這禱告為訓誨詩——教導的詩，因為他在洞中、在他的膝蓋上所學的好功課，他渴望也教導別人。在這些經文中當留意，
一、大衛如何向神訴苦（詩一四二1、2）。危險過去之後，他並不以承認自己曾有的驚惶與曾向神所作的呼求為恥（這是大人物有時引以為恥的）。願一切身居高位的人，在患難中向神呼求——如同孩子受驚時向父母呼求一般——不以為恥、不以為貶損。大衛吐露他的苦情——這表明他自由而完全地訴苦；他訴說得詳細而具體。他的心滿了苦情，但他藉著在耶和華面前傾吐而使自己得了舒解；並且他以極大的懇切來作這事：他發聲向耶和華哀告——有人以為是指他心靈的聲音，因為他藏在洞中，不敢發出可聽見的聲音，免得暴露自己；但心思的禱告在神聽來就是出聲的禱告，他聽見那不能或不敢說出來的歎息（羅八26）。大衛在這訴苦中向神陳明兩件事：1. 他的困境。他陳明了一份關於自己案件的備忘：我在他面前陳說我的患難，以及其中一切的詳情。他不是在指示神，不是像神若無他的陳說便不知道那樣將患難告訴他；而是作為一個信靠神的人，渴望與他保持交通、並完全將自己交託給他，便向他敞開心懷，謙卑地將事情擺在他面前，然後欣然將之交給他。我們容易向自己過分陳說患難——將其擴大、反覆思量，這於我們無益；但若將之陳明於神，我們便可將憂慮交託給那顧念我們的，因而得著舒解。我們也不當容許任何對自己或別人的訴苦，是我們不能以合宜的端莊與真誠的敬虔向神陳說、並在他面前堅持的。2. 他的渴望。他訴苦之時，便懇求（詩一四二1），不是以解救為理所當然的債來索取，而是謙卑地作為恩惠來懇求。訴苦的人必須是懇求的人，因為神要人尋求他。
二、他所訴苦的是甚麼：「在我行的路上」——毫不疑心有危險——「他們暗暗為我設下網羅，」要陷害我。掃羅將女兒米甲給大衛，正是要作網羅陷害他（撒上十八21）。他向神訴說這事：每件事都是帶著謀害他的詭計而作的。他若偏離了自己的路而遇見網羅，他可以歸咎自己；但他是在盡本分的路上遇見網羅，便可以謙卑的膽量將之告訴神。
三、在這些訴苦之中，甚麼安慰了他（詩一四二3）：「當我的靈在我裏面發昏」——快要被憂愁與恐懼的重擔壓沉，當我完全不知所措、快要絕望之時——「那時你知道我的道路」，就是說，那時想到你知道它，於我是極大的安慰。你知道我的真誠——我所行的正直之路——也知道我並非如逼迫我的人所描述的那種人。你知道我的景況，連其中一切的細節都知道；當我的靈如此發昏、以致不能清楚陳明之時，這件事安慰了我——你知道它（伯二十三10）。你知道它，就是說，你保護它、保全它、使它安穩（詩三十一7；申二7）。
英文原文
David's Complaints
Maschil of David. A prayer when he was in the cave.
¹ I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.
² I poured out my complaint before him; I showed before him my trouble.
³ When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.
Whether it was in the cave of Adullam, or that of Engedi, that David prayed this prayer, is not material; it is plain that he was in distress. It was a great disgrace to so great a soldier, so great a courtier, to be put to such shifts for his own safety, and a great terror to be so hotly pursued and every moment in expectation of death; yet then he had such a presence of mind as to pray this prayer, and, wherever he was, still had his religion about him. Prayers and tears were his weapons, and, when he durst not stretch forth his hands against his prince, he lifted them up to his God. There is no cave so deep, so dark, but we may out of it send up our prayers, and our souls in prayer, to God. He calls this prayer Maschil—a psalm of instruction, because of the good lessons he had himself learnt in the cave, learnt on his knees, which he desired to teach others. In these verses observe,
I. How David complained to God, Ps 142:1,2. When the danger was over he was not ashamed to own (as great spirits sometimes are) the fright he had been in and the application he had made to God. Let no men of the first rank think it any diminution or disparagement to them, when they are in affliction, to cry to God, and to cry like children to their parents when any thing frightens them. David poured out his complaint, which denotes a free and full complaint; he was copious and particular in it. His heart was as full of his grievances as it could hold, but he made himself easy by pouring them out before the Lord; and this he did with great fervency: He cried unto the Lord with his voice, with the voice of his mind (so some think), for, being hidden in the cave, he durst not speak with an audible voice, lest that should betray him; but mental prayer is vocal to God, and he hears the groanings which cannot, or dare not, be uttered, Ro 8:26. Two things David laid open to God, in this complaint:—1. His distress. He exhibited a remonstrance or memorial of his case: I showed before him my trouble, and all the circumstances of it. He did not prescribe to God, nor show him his trouble, as if God did not know it without his showing; but as one that put a confidence in God, desired to keep up communion with him, and was willing to refer himself entirely to him, he unbosomed himself to him, humbly laid the matter before him, and then cheerfully left it with him. We are apt to show our trouble too much to ourselves, aggravating it, and poring upon it, which does us no service, whereas by showing it to God we might cast the care upon him who careth for us, and thereby ease ourselves. Nor should we allow of any complaint to ourselves or others which we cannot with due decency and sincerity of devotion make to God, and stand to before him. 2. His desire. When he made his complaint he made his supplication (Ps 142:1), not claiming relief as a debt, but humbly begging it as a favour. Complainants must be suppliants, for God will be sought unto.
II. What he complained of: "In the way wherein I walked, suspecting no danger, have they privily laid a snare for me, to entrap me." Saul gave Michal his daughter to David on purpose that she might be a snare to him, 1Sa 18:21. This he complains of to God, that every thing was done with a design against him. If he had gone out of his way, and met with snares, he might have thanked himself; but when he met with them in the way of his duty he might with humble boldness tell God of them.
III. What comforted him in the midst of these complaints (Ps 142:3): "When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, and ready to sink under the burden of grief and fear, when I was quite at a loss and ready to despair, then thou knewest my path, that is, then it was a pleasure to me to think that thou knewest it. Thou knewest my sincerity, the right path which I have walked in, and that I am not such a one as my persecutors represent me. Thou knewest my condition in all the particulars of it; when my spirit was so overwhelmed that I could not distinctly show it, this comforted me, that thou knewest it, Job 23:10. Thou knewest it, that is, thou didst protect, preserve, and secure it," Ps 31:7, De 2:7.
4-7
Complaints and Petitions
繁體中文
怨訴與祈求
⁴ 我向右邊觀看，無人認識我；我無處避難，也無人眷顧我的靈魂。 ⁵ 耶和華啊，我曾向你哀求，說：你是我的避難所，是我在活人之地所得的分。 ⁶ 求你側耳聽我的呼求，因我被帶到極卑微的地步；求你救我脫離逼迫我的人，因為他們比我強盛。 ⁷ 求你領我的靈魂出離監牢，好稱讚你的名；義人必環繞我，因為你必用厚恩待我。
詩人在此為我們的教訓述說：
1. 他如何被朋友否認、被離棄（詩142:4）。當他在朝廷得寵之時，他似乎大有影響力；但當他被列為通緝之人、收留他成為危險之時（亞希米勒的遭遇便是明證），便無人肯認識他，人人都避而遠之。他向右邊觀看，尋找一位代求者（詩109:31），尋找某位朋友為他說句好話；但自從約拿單為他出頭幾乎喪命之後，再無人敢為他的無辜辯護，人人都推說對此事一無所知。他環顧四周，看是否有人肯為他開門；但避難之所向他斷絕了。他從前一切舊友，無一人肯給他一宿的住處，或指點他一處隱密安全之地。多少善人曾被這樣的「燕子之友」所欺騙——冬天一到便飛走了！大衛的性命本極其寶貴，然而當他被不義地通緝之時，卻無人眷顧，無人肯動一根指頭來保護他。在此他預表了基督；基督為我們受苦之時，被眾人離棄，連自己的門徒也離開了他，他獨自踹酒醡，因為無人幫助，無人扶持（賽63:5）。
2. 他如何在神裏面找到滿足（詩142:5）。親友遠遠站著避開他，向他們呼求也是徒然。「但是，」他說，我向你呼求，耶和華啊！你認識我、眷顧我——在別人都不肯之時——人離棄我時你也必不離棄我、不撇下我；因為神的愛是恆久的。大衛告訴我們他在洞裏對神所說的話：你是我的避難所，是我在活人之地所得的分；我倚靠你作我的避難所——救我脫離苦難，又作我的分——使我得著福樂。我所處的洞穴不過是個可憐的避難所。主啊，你的名是我跑進去的堅固臺。你是我的避難所——惟在你裏面我才覺得安穩。我所盼望的王冠不過是個可憐的分；我若不知道耶和華是我產業的分、是我杯中的分，便總不能以為自己得了妥當的預備。」凡誠心以耶和華為神的人，必發現他無論作避難所、還是作產業都全然充足——因此沒有惡事能傷害他們，也沒有美物會缺少給他們；他們可以謙卑地宣告自己的權益：「主啊，你是我的避難所，是我的分；其他一切都是謊言的避難所、是毫無價值的分。你在活人之地作我的避難所和我的分——就是說，當我活著、有氣息之時，無論在今世或在更美之地。」神裏面有足夠的豐盛，可以應付今世一切的需要。我們活在一個充滿危險和缺乏的世界；但若神是我們的避難所，我們還懼怕甚麼危險？若他是我們的分，我們還缺乏甚麼？惟有天堂才配稱為活人之地；它對一切信徒而言，既是避難所，也是產業。
3. 他在這滿足中如何向神發出呼求（詩142:5-6）：「主啊，求你留心聽我的呼求——我苦難的呼求、我懇求的呼求，因為我被帶到極卑微的地步；你若不幫助我，我便全然沉淪了。主啊，求你救我脫離逼迫我的人——或是綁住他們的手，或是改變他們的心；或是折斷他們的勢力，或是挫敗他們的計謀；或是限制他們，或是拯救我——因為他們比我強盛；你站在軟弱的一方，這正是你的榮耀。求你救我脫離他們，否則我必被他們毀滅，因為我自己尚不足以與他們匹敵。主啊，求你領我的靈魂出離監牢——不僅帶我安然出離此洞，更帶我脫離我一切的困厄。」我們可以從屬靈上應用：善人的靈魂常因疑惑和恐懼而受困扼，因信心的軟弱和肉體的強盛而被捆綁、被拘禁；那時他們的本分和益處便是來到神面前，求他釋放他們、擴張他們的心，使他們可以奔走他誡命的道。
4. 他多麼期待自己的拯救能歸榮耀於神。 （1）藉著他自己的感恩——他如今的怨訴將要化為感恩：「求你領我的靈魂出離監牢——不是為叫我可以享受自己、享受朋友、安逸度日，也不是為叫我可以保衛我的國家，而是為叫我稱讚你的名。」我們在一切向神求拯救脫離患難的禱告中，都當以此為念——為要得著稱讚神的機會，並活著讚美他。今世福分最大的安慰，就是它為我們提供了那極美善的讚美之工的題材和機會。 （2）藉著許多人為他而發的感恩（林後1:11）：「當我得著寬廣之時，義人必環繞我；因為我的緣故，他們要為你編成讚美的冠冕（迦勒底譯本如此譯）。他們要聚集到我這裏來，祝賀我得拯救，聽我的經歷，並從我領受（Maschil）訓誨；他們要環繞我，與我一同感恩，因為你用厚恩待了我。」注意，別人所蒙的憐憫，當成為我們向神感恩的題材；而別人為我們所發的感恩，當為我們所渴望、所喜樂的。
英文原文
Complaints and Petitions
⁴ 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.
⁵ I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
⁶ Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
⁷ Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
The psalmist here tells us, for our instruction, 1. How he was disowned and deserted by his friends, Ps 142:4. When he was in favour at court he seemed to have a great interest, but when he was made an out-law, and it was dangerous for any one to harbour him (witness Ahimelech's fate), then no man would know him, but every body was shy of him. He looked on his right hand for an advocate (Ps 109:31), some friend or other to speak a good word for him; but, since Jonathan's appearing for him had like to have cost him his life, nobody was willing to venture in defence of his innocency, but all were ready to say they knew nothing of the matter. He looked round to see if any would open their doors to him; but refuge failed him. None of all his old friends would give him a night's lodging, or direct him to any place of secresy and safety. How many good men have been deceived by such swallow-friends, who are gone when winter comes! David's life was exceedingly precious, and yet, when he was unjustly proscribed, no man cared for it, nor would move a hand for the protection of it. Herein he was a type of Christ, who, in his sufferings for us, was forsaken of all men, even of his own disciples, and trod the wine-press alone, for there was none to help, none to uphold, Isa 63:5. 2. How he then found satisfaction in God, Ps 142:5. Lovers and friends stood aloof from him, and it was in vain to call to them. "But," said he, "I cried unto thee, O Lord! who knowest me, and carest for me, when none else will, and wilt not fail me nor forsake me when men do;" for God is constant in his love. David tells us what he said to God in the cave: "Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living; I depend upon thee to be so, my refuge to save me from being miserable, my portion to make me happy. The cave I am in is but a poor refuge. Lord, thy name is the strong tower that I run into. Thou art my refuge, in whom alone I shall think myself safe. The crown I am in hopes of is but a poor portion; I can never think myself well provided for till I know that the Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup." Those who in sincerity take the Lord for their God shall find him all-sufficient both as a refuge and as a portion, so that, as no evil shall hurt them, so no good shall be wanting to them; and they may humbly claim their interest: "Lord, thou art my refuge and my portion; every thing else is a refuge of lies and a portion of no value. Thou art so in the land of the living, that is, while I live and have my being, whether in this world or in a better." There is enough in God to answer all the necessities of this present time. We live in a world of dangers and wants; but what danger need we fear if God is our refuge, or what wants if he be our portion? Heaven, which alone deserves to be called the land of the living, will be to all believers both a refuge and a portion. 3. How, in this satisfaction, he addressed himself to God (Ps 142:5,6): "Lord, give a gracious ear to my cry, the cry of my affliction, the cry of my supplication, for I am brought very low, and, if thou help me not, I shall be quite sunk. Lord, deliver me from my persecutors, either tie their hands or turn their hearts, break their power or blast their projects, restrain them or rescue me, for they are stronger than I, and it will be thy honour to take part with the weakest. Deliver me from them, or I shall be ruined by them, for I am not yet myself a match for them. Lord, bring my soul out of prison, not only bring me safe out of this cave, but bring me out of all my perplexities." We may apply it spiritually: the souls of good men are often straitened by doubts and fears, cramped and fettered through the weakness of faith and the prevalency of corruption; and it is then their duty and interest to apply themselves to God, and beg of him to set them at liberty and to enlarge their hearts, that they may run the way of his commandments. 4. How much he expected his deliverance would redound to the glory of God. (1.) By his own thanksgivings, into which his present complaints would then be turned: "Bring my soul out of prison, not that I may enjoy myself and my friends and live at ease, no, nor that I may secure my country, but that I may praise thy name." This we should have an eye to, in all our prayers to God for deliverance out of trouble, that we may have occasion to praise God and may live to his praise. This is the greatest comfort of temporal mercies that they furnish us with matter, and give us opportunity, for the excellent duty of praise. (2.) By the thanksgivings of many on his behalf (2Co 1:11): "When I am enlarged the righteous shall encompass me about; for my cause they shall make thee a crown of praise, so the Chaldee. They shall flock about me to congratulate me on my deliverance, to hear my experiences, and to receive (Maschil) instructions from me; they shall encompass me, to join with me in my thanksgivings, because thou shalt have dealt bountifully with me." Note, The mercies of others ought to be the matter of our praises to God; and the praises of others, on our behalf, ought to be both desired and rejoiced in by us.
本篇是一篇禱告，其內容是大衛被掃羅追逼、被迫在洞中避難時向神所獻上的，後來他便以這形式寫下。其中有：一、他向神所發的訴說（詩一四二1、2）——訴說他仇敵的詭詐、勢力與惡毒（詩一四二3、6），以及他朋友的冷淡與漠不關心（詩一四二4）。二、他從神所得的安慰——神知道他的境遇（詩一四二3），並作他的避難所（詩一四二5）。三、他對神的期望——神必垂聽並搭救他（詩一四二6、7）。四、他對義人的期望——他們必與他一同讚美（詩一四二7）。心靈、身體或財產受困擾的人，若唱這詩（只要多少带着大衛的靈來唱），便既可附和他的訴說，也可得着他的安慰。