Although my spirit grows faint within me, You know my way. Along the path I travel they have hidden a snare for me.
Parallel translations
- WEB When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, you knew my route. On the path in which I walk, they have hidden a snare for me.
- KJV When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.
- NKJV When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk They have secretly set a snare for me.
- NASB When my spirit felt weak within me, You knew my path. In the way where I walk They have hidden a trap for me.
- NLT When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
When David's spirit was overwhelmed, God still knew his path, though enemies hid a snare. It affirms that God knows our way even in our lowest moments.
Overview
Even as David feels crushed and surrounded by hidden traps, he confesses that God knows his way perfectly. This knowledge of God's watchful care steadies him when his own spirit fails. The Good Shepherd who knows His sheep and their path leads them safely through every danger (John 10:14).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Ps 140:5The proud hide a snare for me; the cords of their net are spread along the path, and lures are set out for me. Selah
- Ps 141:9Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, and from the lures of evildoers.
- Mark 14:33–36He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be deeply troubled and distressed.
- Ps 143:4My spirit grows faint within me; my heart is dismayed inside me.
- Jer 18:22Let a cry be heard from their houses when You suddenly bring raiders against them, for they have dug a pit to capture me and have hidden snares for my feet.
- Ps 61:2From the ends of the earth I call out to You whenever my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
- Ps 139:2–4You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.
- Ps 1:6For the LORD guards the path of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
- Ps 35:7–8For without cause they laid their net for me; without reason they dug a pit for my soul.
- Ps 56:6They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps while they wait to take my life.
- Job 23:10Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
- Ps 102:4My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.
- Ps 77:3I remembered You, O God, and I groaned; I mused and my spirit grew faint. Selah
- Ps 22:14I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed. My heart is like wax; it melts away within me.
- Ps 31:4You free me from the net laid out for me, for You are my refuge.
- Ps 17:3You have tried my heart; You have visited me in the night. You have tested me and found no evil; I have resolved not to sin with my mouth.
- Matt 22:15Then the Pharisees went out and conspired to trap Jesus in His words.
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 142:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.