Psalm chapter 130
English Standard Version
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! 2O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! 3If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. 5I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. 7O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. 8And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
New International Version
2Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. 3If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?
New American Standard Bible
1Out of the depths I have cried to You, Lord. 2Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the sound of my pleadings. 3If You, Lord, were to keep account of guilty deeds, Lord, who could stand? 4But there is forgiveness with You, So that You may be revered. 5I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And I wait for His word. 6My soul waits in hope for the Lord More than the watchmen for the morning; Yes, more than the watchmen for the morning. 7Israel, wait for the Lord; For with the Lord there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. 8And He will redeem Israel From all his guilty deeds.
Christian Standard Bible
2Lord, listen to my voice; let your ears be attentive to my cry for help. 3 Lord, if you kept an account of iniquities, Lord, who could stand?
New Living Translation
1From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help. 2Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer.
3Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? 4But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.
King James Version
New King James Version
1{A Song of Ascents.} Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; 2Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. 3 If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. 5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. 6 My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning— Yes, more than those who watch for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. 8And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities.
What does Psalm chapter 130 mean?
One of the "songs of ascent" (Psalms 120—134), this psalm focuses on God's offer of forgiveness. It begins with a prayer for mercy and ends with a call for Israel to rely on the Lord.First, the psalmist prays for mercy. This sometimes means rescue from enemies (Psalm 69:14–16) but it also applies to the consequences of sin. In a moment of deep pain and despair, this prayer admits that God is perfect, while no person is (Romans 3:10). There are no excuses when then Lord accuses one of sin; no person can escape judgment. Yet the Lord is not merely righteous; He is also merciful, offering forgiveness. This should inspire people to properly "fear" the Lord (Proverbs 1:7) in worship and obedience (Psalm 130:1–4).
The psalmist intends to trust in God for an answer to prayer. This "waiting" involves patience as well as attention. The text compares this to how nighttime watchmen would eagerly hope to see the sun rise. That would mean their night was done and they could now rest. After concluding the prayer, the psalmist encourages faith. God offers redemption and a "steadfast love" noted by the word hesed. This is a consistent, unending love. Because of that love, God promises to save those who come to Him in faith (John 3:16–18) and to redeem the nation of Israel through a Messiah (Psalm 130:5–8).
