Chapter One Hundred Forty-One

According to the inscription, the psalm in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin Bibles belongs to David and depicts that state which he experienced in a cave. Here is understood David’s stay in the cave of Odollam (1 Sam 22:1-2) during the persecutions by Saul.

During times of trouble I cried out to the Lord and sought protection only in Him, for there was no protector around me (1–4). I cried out to the Lord: hear my cry, deliver from oppressors, and then the righteous shall gather around me (5–7).

Psalm 141:2. I poured out my supplication before Him; I declared my trouble to Him. “I poured out my supplication” – indicates the constant, intensified prayer of David to God.

Psalm 141:3. When my spirit grew faint within me, You knew my path. On the way by which I walk, they have secretly set a snare for me. Psalm 141:4. I look to the right and see; there is none who recognizes me: refuge has failed me, no one cares for my life. Psalm 141:5. I cried to You, O Lord, I said: You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. Psalm 141:6. Hear my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from those who persecute me, for they are stronger than I. “When my spirit grew faint within me,” You, O Lord, “knew my path” – You loved, approved my actions, gave me protection and favor. – “No one recognizes me” – there was no one among men who would be close to me, everyone shunned me. – “Refuge has failed me” – I had nowhere to flee to hide from enemies, therefore I seek protection only in You.

Psalm 141:7. Bring my soul out of prison, so that I may praise Your name. The righteous will gather around me, when You show me kindness. “Bring my soul out of prison” – deliver me from heavy sorrows, from constrained circumstances, so that I may praise You. Then (when troubles have passed) the righteous ones, who wait and watch the course of my fate, will join me, so that when You “show me kindness” – protect me and render to my enemies what is due – they will join with me for Your praise. Psalms 140 and 141 are used at evensong. As in Ps 129 psalm, here is laid out a prayer to God for salvation from troubles, for the correction of prayer in the manner of “an evening sacrifice” (Ps 140:2) and for deliverance from the position abandoned by all, defenseless, as a man is during sleep – (an image of the Old Testament).