Psalm 142 4

Psalm 142:4 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.

Psalm 142:4 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.

Psalm 142:4 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.

Psalm 142:4 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.

Psalm 142:4 nlt

I look for someone to come and help me,
but no one gives me a passing thought!
No one will help me;
no one cares a bit what happens to me.

Psalm 142 verses

Psalm 142 4 Meaning

Psalm 142:4 depicts David's profound state of isolation and despair while hiding in a cave. He describes a desolate situation where he scans for human assistance and finds none, experiencing absolute abandonment. His cry conveys a complete lack of human recognition, sanctuary, or genuine care for his very being, emphasizing his sole dependence on God.

Psalm 142 4 Context

Psalm 142 is titled a "Maskil of David, when he was in the cave." This likely refers to specific periods of David's life when he was fleeing King Saul, most prominently mentioned in 1 Sam 22:1 (Cave of Adullam) or 1 Sam 24:3 (caves of En Gedi). During these times, David was a fugitive, often alone or with a small band of loyalists, in constant peril of his life, with Saul's forces relentlessly pursuing him. The Psalm is a raw, urgent prayer from a man at his lowest point, feeling trapped and utterly forsaken by human support. Verse 4 captures the climax of this desolation, highlighting the immediate lack of any visible ally or safe haven. It portrays the intense emotional and spiritual distress of feeling utterly alone in his suffering, before he turns wholly to God as his only recourse in the following verses.

Psalm 142 4 Word analysis

• Look to my right and see;
  • "Look... and see": Hebrew habeṭ u're'eh (הַבֵּ֥ט וּרְאֵ֖ה). Both are imperative verbs, signifying an urgent, deliberate act of observation and search. It implies a desperate survey of his surroundings, actively seeking help.
  • "to my right": Hebrew yāmiyn (יָמִ֥ין). In ancient Near Eastern culture and Hebrew thought, the "right hand" was the place of strength, help, advocacy, and honor. One would typically expect a defender, advocate, or a trusted helper to stand on one's right side (e.g., Ps 16:8, Ps 109:31, Zech 3:1 where the angel of the Lord stands at the right of Joshua the High Priest to accuse him). David looking to his right and seeing nothing intensifies his sense of utter abandonment; even in the symbolic place of support, there is a void. This absence functions as a subtle polemic against any reliance on human or worldly power, asserting their complete failure in such dire circumstances.
• No one is concerned for me;
  • "No one": Hebrew 'ên (אֵ֣ין), meaning "there is not," emphasizing absolute absence.
  • "concerned for me": Hebrew lî makīr (לִ֑י מַכִּ֣יר). The word makīr is a participle from the verb nākar, meaning "to know," "to acknowledge," "to recognize," "to be familiar with." Here, it carries the deeper sense of recognizing one's plight and being willing to offer assistance, to truly care or show understanding. It's not just "no one sees me," but "no one acknowledges my situation or feels responsibility to help." This speaks to a profound social and emotional isolation, where no one identifies with his suffering or provides aid, akin to being treated as an unknown stranger or an outcast.
• No refuge remains for me;
  • "No refuge": Hebrew mānōs (מָנֹ֖וס), refers to a place of escape, flight, or shelter from danger. It can be physical safety, a place to run to.
  • "remains for me": Hebrew 'ōvedh mimmenî (אֹבֵ֥ד מִמֶּ֑נִּי). The verb 'ōvedh (from 'ābadh) means "to perish," "to be lost," "to be gone." So, literally, "refuge has perished from me" or "is lost to me." This isn't just a lack of refuge but the disappearance of any potential shelter or escape route. It indicates that every avenue of earthly safety or deliverance has vanished, intensifying the feeling of being trapped and exposed to threat from all sides. It signifies a point of utter desperation where all worldly options for safety have been exhausted.
• No one cares for my soul.
  • "No one": Hebrew 'ên (אֵ֣ין), again emphasizing complete absence.
  • "cares for": Hebrew dōrēš (דֹּרֵ֥שׁ), from the verb dārash, which means "to seek," "to inquire," "to search for," "to pursue," or "to require." In this context, it implies a deep, diligent, and active concern for someone's welfare. It’s more than casual interest; it suggests seeking after someone for their good, like a shepherd seeking lost sheep.
  • "my soul": Hebrew napšî (נַפְשִֽׁי׃), "my soul," "my life," or "my very being/self." This is the most poignant part of the verse. It refers not just to physical care or practical help, but to a profound, existential lack of concern. No one values his life, seeks his well-being, or desires his preservation. This conveys the ultimate degree of isolation, where his very existence is apparently inconsequential to everyone else. It expresses a deep human need for empathy and value, which David feels utterly denied. This internal suffering highlights that his crisis is not merely external persecution, but a fundamental assault on his human dignity and sense of worth in the eyes of others.
• Words-Group Analysis:
  • "Look to my right and see; No one is concerned for me;": This progression illustrates an active search for help ("look to my right"), which yields an utterly barren result ("no one concerned"). The expected source of human aid proves to be empty. It shows David's initial reliance on human intervention, followed by its complete failure.
  • "No refuge remains for me; No one cares for my soul.": This part shifts from a lack of physical safety ("no refuge") to a much deeper, existential anguish ("no one cares for my soul"). The former signifies the loss of a secure place, while the latter represents the loss of human compassion and worth. It's the apex of his despair, moving beyond physical threats to spiritual and emotional desolation. The complete absence of human empathy, for his very existence and welfare, reveals the depth of his brokenness before he ultimately casts himself wholly on God in the subsequent verses.

Psalm 142 4 Bonus section

Psalm 142 is designated as a "Maskil," which indicates an "instructional" or "contemplative" psalm, implying it carries profound spiritual lessons derived from personal experience. This specific verse, therefore, is not just a personal lament but a shared human experience of ultimate abandonment, offering guidance on how one might turn when every earthly support system fails. It underscores a central theological truth that true and unwavering care ultimately comes from God alone. For Christians, this verse profoundly echoes the suffering of Christ, who, too, was abandoned by His disciples (Mk 14:50) and endured profound isolation, culminating in His cry from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matt 27:46). David's experience serves as a foreshadowing of the ultimate abandonment faced by the Servant of the Lord who bore humanity's sins and in whose person the principle that "He was despised and forsaken of men" (Is 53:3) found its perfect fulfillment, ensuring that for those in Him, true ultimate care is never truly lost.

Psalm 142 4 Commentary

Psalm 142:4 encapsulates the ultimate depths of human despair and isolation. David, likely a king in exile and hiding in a cave, articulates a pervasive sense of abandonment. His active search for human assistance yields nothing: the right hand, the customary place for a defender, is empty. This is not merely a complaint about lack of aid, but a lament about the complete absence of human acknowledgement of his plight, signifying he is utterly forsaken. The lack of any "refuge" speaks to the eradication of all worldly avenues of safety and escape, leaving him without a secure physical haven. Crucially, the climax of his lament – "No one cares for my soul" – reveals a deeper agony than mere physical danger; it’s an existential cry. No one, among humanity, holds any active concern for his very life or well-being, confirming his status as an absolute outcast. This verse sets the stage for David’s profound pivot to God alone in the following verses, illustrating that when all human support fails and earthly avenues vanish, God becomes the sole, indispensable hope and refuge. It mirrors experiences of abandonment often faced by those who truly follow God's path or stand for righteousness, forcing an exclusive dependence on divine providence.