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.
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.
- BSB Although my spirit grows faint within me, You know my way. Along the path I travel they have hidden 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 have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.
- Ps 141:9Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
- Mark 14:33–36And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
- Ps 143:4Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
- Jer 18:22Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.
- Ps 61:2From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
- Ps 139:2–4Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
- Ps 1:6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
- Ps 35:7–8For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.
- Ps 56:6They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
- Job 23:10But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
- Ps 102:4My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
- Ps 77:3I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
- Ps 22:14I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
- Ps 31:4Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
- Ps 17:3Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
- Matt 22:15Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
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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.