Psalms 130:1-7

Context

Psalm 130¹

A song of ascents.²

130:1 From the deep water³ I cry out to you, O Lord.

130:2 O Lord, listen to me!⁴

Pay attention to⁵ my plea for mercy!

130:3 If you, O Lord, were to keep track of⁶ sins,

O Lord, who could stand before you?⁷

130:4 But⁸ you are willing to forgive,⁹

so that you might¹⁰ be honored.¹¹

130:5 I rely on¹² the Lord,

I rely on him with my whole being;¹³

I wait for his assuring word.¹⁴

130:6 I yearn for the Lord,¹⁵

more than watchmen do for the morning,

yes, more than watchmen do for the morning.¹⁶

130:7 O Israel, hope in the Lord,

for the Lord exhibits loyal love,¹⁷

and is more than willing to deliver.¹⁸

[130:1] ¹sn Psalm 130. The psalmist, confident of the Lord’s forgiveness, cries out to the Lord for help in the midst of his suffering and urges Israel to do the same.

[130:1] ²sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.

[130:1] ³tn Heb “depths,” that is, deep waters (see Ps 69:2, 14; Isa 51:10), a metaphor for the life-threatening danger faced by the psalmist.

[130:2] ⁴tn Heb “my voice.”

[130:2] ⁵tn Heb “may your ears be attentive to the voice of.”

[130:3] ⁶tn Heb “observe.”

[130:3] ⁷tn The words “before you” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The psalmist must be referring to standing before God’s judgment seat. The rhetorical question expects the answer, “No one.”

[130:4] ⁸tn Or “surely.”

[130:4] ⁹tn Heb “for with you [there is] forgiveness.”

[130:4] ¹⁰tn Or “consequently you are.”

[130:4] ¹¹tn Heb “feared.”

[130:5] ¹²tn Or “wait for.”

[130:5] ¹³tn Heb “my soul waits.”

[130:5] ¹⁴tn Heb “his word.”

[130:6] ¹⁵tn Heb “my soul for the master.”

[130:6] ¹⁶tn Heb “more than watchmen for the morning, watchmen for the morning.” The words “yes, more” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[130:7] ¹⁷tn Heb “for with the Lord [is] loyal love.”

[130:7] ¹⁸tn Heb “and abundantly with him [is] redemption.”