I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear.
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me. My heart within me is desolate.
- KJV Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
- BSB My spirit grows faint within me; my heart is dismayed inside me.
- NKJV Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; My heart within me is distressed.
- NASB Therefore my spirit feels weak within me; My heart is appalled within 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
David's spirit is overwhelmed and his heart desolate within him. It honestly names deep inward distress and discouragement.
Overview
David does not hide his crushed spirit and desolate heart, giving voice to genuine despair before God. Such honesty is permitted and even modeled in Scripture's prayers. Yet he brings this desolation to God, the source of comfort, who in Christ binds up the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Ps 77:3I remember God, and I groan. I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed. Selah.
- Ps 142:3When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, you knew my route. On the path in which I walk, they have hidden a snare for me.
- Ps 55:5Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me.
- Ps 102:3–4For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned as a torch.
- Luke 22:44Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.
- Ps 102:1A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before Yahweh. Hear my prayer, Yahweh! Let my cry come to you.
- Job 6:27Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.
- Ps 61:2From the end of the earth, I will call to you, when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
- Ps 124:4then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul;
- Ps 119:81–83My soul faints for your salvation. I hope in your word.
- Ps 25:16Turn to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted.
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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 143:4 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.