Psalms 142:5

King James Version (KJV)

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

Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

I cried unto thee, O Lord - When there was no help; when I saw myself encompassed with dangers; when I looked on every hand and there was no “man” that would undertake for me.

I said, Thou art my refuge -

(a) My “only” refuge. I can go nowhere else.

(b) Thou art “in fact” my refuge. I can and do put my trust in thee. See the notes at Psalm 46:1.

And my portion - See the notes at Psalm 16:5.

In the land of the living - Among all those that live - all living beings. There is no one else among the living to whom I can come but to thee, the living God. My hope is not in human beings, for they are against me; not in angels, for they have not the power to rescue me. It is God only, the living God, whom I make my confidence and the ground of my hope.

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