Psalm 142 7

Psalm 142:7 kjv

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.

Psalm 142:7 nkjv

Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise Your name; The righteous shall surround me, For You shall deal bountifully with me."

Psalm 142:7 niv

Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.

Psalm 142:7 esv

Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name! The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me.

Psalm 142:7 nlt

Bring me out of prison
so I can thank you.
The godly will crowd around me,
for you are good to me."

Psalm 142 verses

Psalm 142 7 Meaning

Psalm 142:7 is a desperate yet hopeful cry of the psalmist, David, from a place of severe confinement and distress. It is a petition for liberation from his dire circumstances, which he likens to a "prison." The primary motivation for this deliverance is not merely personal relief, but so that he may wholeheartedly "praise Thy name," declaring God's character and power. Furthermore, the psalmist expresses confidence that upon his deliverance, "the righteous shall compass me about," implying that his vindication and God's powerful intervention will attract other godly individuals, who will gather around him, perhaps in celebration or solidarity. This entire plea and confident expectation are founded upon the deep conviction that God will "deal bountifully with me," providing generously and completely for his well-being.

Psalm 142 7 Context

Psalm 142 is explicitly titled "Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave." This title provides crucial context, placing the Psalm during a period of intense distress and isolation for David, most likely referring to his flight from King Saul, either in the cave of Adullam (1 Sam 22) or the cave of En Gedi (1 Sam 24). In these instances, David was utterly alone and without human support, persecuted unjustly, and fearing for his life. The entire Psalm preceding verse 7 details his complaint to the LORD, feeling utterly helpless, friendless, and overwhelmed by his troubles. Therefore, the "prison" he refers to in verse 7 is both the literal cave providing shelter yet also a place of confinement, and, more significantly, the metaphorical prison of overwhelming anguish, fear, and hopelessness. His plea is for rescue from this total state of despair and imminent danger.

Psalm 142 7 Word analysis

• Bring (הוציאה hotzi'ah): An imperative verb, "bring out" or "lead forth." This is a fervent, urgent plea or command to God, demonstrating David's complete dependence on divine intervention for his deliverance. It emphasizes God's active role in liberation.

• my soul (נפשי nafshi): From nephesh, meaning not just the immaterial spirit, but the entire living being, including emotions, will, and very life force. David's entire existence feels confined, not just his physical body. The plea is for complete restoration of his vitality and purpose.

• out of prison (ממסגר mim'misger): From misger, meaning "enclosure, confinement, dungeon, a place shut in." This refers to David's extreme and oppressive circumstances. While literally applicable to a cave, it extends to the metaphorical "prison" of distress, fear, loneliness, and impending death that suffocates his spirit.

• that I may praise (למען אודה lema'an odeh): Lema'an introduces a purpose clause. David's motivation for wanting deliverance is fundamentally God-centered. Odeh is from yadah, meaning "to praise, thank, give thanks, confess." Deliverance enables renewed, public worship and acknowledgment of God's goodness.

• thy name (שמך shimkha): Not just the sound or title, but the very essence, character, and revealed attributes of God. To praise God's name is to praise His power, faithfulness, justice, mercy, and sovereignty, especially as demonstrated in salvation.

• the righteous (צדיקים tzaddiqim): Plural of tzaddiq, meaning "just, righteous ones." These are individuals who are upright in their conduct and devoted to God, whose lives are aligned with His covenant and commands.

• shall compass me about (יכתרו עלי yakh'tiru alai): From katar, "to surround, encircle, crown." This phrase implies that when God delivers David, the righteous will gather around him. This can be interpreted as joining in his praise, acknowledging God's righteous vindication, offering solidarity, or even as a symbolic "crowning" or affirmation of his deliverance and restored status by God. It speaks of the public recognition of God's work.

• for thou shalt deal bountifully with me (כי תגמל עלי ki tigmol alai): Ki introduces the reason or assurance. Tigmol is from gamal, meaning "to deal out to, to ripen, to deal bountifully with, to recompense." This indicates God's generous and complete provision. It implies a full restoration, beyond mere survival, encompassing abundant goodness and blessing. It is the underlying faith that drives the petition.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Bring my soul out of prison": A profound cry for holistic deliverance. It's not just physical confinement David wants release from, but the total state of distress, emotional despair, and threat to his very life. It reflects a total surrender of helplessness and a confident expectation that only God can perform such a mighty rescue.
  • "that I may praise thy name": This reveals David's pure motive. His personal salvation is subservient to God's glory. Deliverance is not an end in itself but a means to enable and empower renewed, fervent worship and testimony of God's character. This highlights the vertical dimension of his deliverance.
  • "the righteous shall compass me about": This envisions a communal effect of his deliverance. God's intervention on David's behalf will be a visible testimony that attracts and gathers other believers. It suggests solidarity, shared worship, and a collective affirmation of God's righteousness and David's vindication. It moves from private anguish to public manifestation of God's faithfulness.
  • "for thou shalt deal bountifully with me": This phrase expresses the unshakeable foundation of David's prayer and hope. His plea is not based on his merit but on God's inherent nature of generous goodness and faithfulness to His covenant promises. It implies an outpouring of divine favor, going beyond basic needs to lavish provision, securing a future of blessings.

Psalm 142 7 Bonus section

This Psalm, labeled a "Maschil," is intended to provide insight and understanding to others experiencing similar distress. David's prayer, stemming from personal isolation, points towards a universal truth about God's readiness to deliver His people, turning their solitary confinement into a shared testimony of praise. The progression from utter aloneness (seen in previous verses) to the expectation of being "compassed about by the righteous" is significant, showing that God's deliverance often includes restoration to community and mutual support within the body of believers. This psalm's themes also find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who, from His own suffering (akin to being in "prison" for our sins), was delivered by the Father to open the spiritual "prison" for all humanity, enabling the "righteous" (those justified by faith in Him) to gather around His Name in praise.

Psalm 142 7 Commentary

Psalm 142:7 captures the transition from utter despair to profound hope rooted in God's character. David's prayer is a classic example of trusting in God alone when all human help fails. His plea for deliverance from "prison" encapsulates not only his physical confinement but his desperate spiritual and emotional state. The essence of the verse lies in its teleological nature: deliverance is sought not just for personal comfort, but for the purpose of praising God's name. This underscores that true rescue facilitates authentic worship, publicly declaring God's attributes.

The prophetic declaration that "the righteous shall compass me about" reveals a broader implication of God's saving acts. Divine deliverance not only restores the individual but also serves as a powerful witness to the community of faith, drawing them closer in shared worship and mutual encouragement. God's intervention fosters spiritual community. The bedrock of this entire hope and expectation is the certainty that God will "deal bountifully" with him. This reflects David's deep understanding of God's unchanging nature as a generous Giver who delights in blessing His people. It speaks of divine recompense for suffering, not just an escape from it. Practically, this verse teaches that in our deepest distress, our cries to God should be coupled with a desire for His glory to be magnified through our restoration, knowing that He is innately good and generous. For instance, a believer battling chronic illness may pray for healing, not just for personal relief, but to testify to God's healing power (praising His name) and encourage fellow believers (the righteous compassing). Similarly, one experiencing financial destitution may seek God's provision not just for survival, but to demonstrate God's faithfulness to others and engage in greater service.