The Meaning of Psalms 142:5 Explained

Psalms 142:5

KJV: I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

YLT: I have cried unto thee, O Jehovah, I have said, 'Thou art my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.'

Darby: I cried unto thee, Jehovah; I said, Thou art my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.

ASV: I cried unto thee, O Jehovah; I said, Thou art my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I cried  unto thee, O LORD:  I said,  Thou [art] my refuge  [and] my portion  in the land  of the living. 

What does Psalms 142:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

When David had prayed to the Lord, he had expressed confidence that the Lord would defend him. God was his portion or allotment-all that he had.

Context Summary

Psalm 142:1-7 - "no Man Cared For My Soul"
The cave was dark and shared by rough and lawless men with whom David had little sympathy. His gentle and devout spirit must often have craved for more congenial society. But he never ceased to cry and make supplication whenever his spirit was overwhelmed. Are you in that plight? Be comforted by the reflection that God knows your path. It is the predestined way, Ephesians 2:10. Before the heavens or earth were made it was prepared. God foreknew all its perplexities and difficulties-how dark the shadows, how fearsome the black current-but He chose it as your best way home. Are all faces averted? Does no one seem to care? Is your soul in prison, and are your persecutors strong? Be of good cheer! Reinforcements of divine grace are on their way; the righteous shall crown themselves because of you; and you will say with your dying breath, "He has dealt bountifully with me." [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 142

1  David shows that in his trouble all his comfort was in prayer unto God

What do the individual words in Psalms 142:5 mean?

I cried out to You Yahweh I said You [are] my refuge My portion in the land of the living
זָעַ֥קְתִּי אֵלֶ֗יךָ יְה֫וָ֥ה אָ֭מַרְתִּי אַתָּ֣ה מַחְסִ֑י חֶ֝לְקִ֗י בְּאֶ֣רֶץ הַֽחַיִּים

זָעַ֥קְתִּי  I  cried  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: זָעַק  
Sense: to cry, cry out, call, call for help.
אֵלֶ֗יךָ  to  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
יְה֫וָ֥ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אָ֭מַרְתִּי  I  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אַתָּ֣ה  You  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
מַחְסִ֑י  my  refuge 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מַחְסֶה  
Sense: refuge, shelter.
חֶ֝לְקִ֗י  My  portion 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: חֵלֶק 
Sense: portion, share, part, territory.
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ  in  the  land 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
הַֽחַיִּים  of  the  living 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.