Psalms 142:4

Translations

King James Version (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.

American King James Version (AKJV)

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.

American Standard Version (ASV)

Look on my right hand, and see; For there is no man that knoweth me: Refuge hath failed me; No man careth for my soul.

Basic English Translation (BBE)

Looking to my right side, I saw no man who was my friend: I had no safe place; no one had any care for my soul.

Webster's Revision

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.

World English Bible

Look on my right, and see; for there is no one who is concerned for me. Refuge has fled from me. No one cares for my soul.

English Revised Version (ERV)

Look on my right hand, and see; for there is no man that knoweth me: refuge hath failed me; no man careth for my soul.

Clarke's Psalms 142:4 Bible Commentary

There was no man, that would know me - This has been applied to the time in which our Lord was deserted by his disciples. As to the case of David in the cave of En-gedi, he had no refuge: for what were the handful of men that were with him to Saul and his army?

Barnes's Psalms 142:4 Bible Commentary

I looked on my right hand, and beheld - Margin, "Look on the right hand and see The words translated "looked" and "beheld" are in the imperative mood in the Hebrew. They are not, however, improperly rendered as to the sense. They refer to David's state of mind at the time, and give vividness to the description. The psalmist seems to be in the presence of others. He calls upon them to look around; to see how he was encompassed with danger. Look, says he, in every direction; see who there is on whom I may rely; what there is to which I may trust as a refuge. I can find none; I see none; there is none. The "right hand" is referred to here as the direction where he might look for a protector: Psalm 109:6, Psalm 109:31.

But there was no man that would know me - No man to be seen who would recognize me as his friend; who would stand up for me; on whom I could rely.

Refuge failed me - Margin, as in Hebrew, "perished from me." If there had been any hope of refuge, it has failed altogether. There is none now.

No man cared for my soul - Margin, "No man sought after my soul." Hebrew, after my "life." That is, No one sought to save my life; no one regarded it as of sufficient importance to attempt to preserve me.

Wesley's Psalms 142:4 Bible Commentary

142:4 Right - hand - The place where the patron or assistant used to stand.