Psalms 130:2-8

Context

130:2 O Lord, listen to me!¹

Pay attention to² my plea for mercy!

130:3 If you, O Lord, were to keep track of³ sins,

O Lord, who could stand before you?⁴

130:4 But⁵ you are willing to forgive,⁶

so that you might⁷ be honored.⁸

130:5 I rely on⁹ the Lord,

I rely on him with my whole being;¹⁰

I wait for his assuring word.¹¹

130:6 I yearn for the Lord,¹²

more than watchmen do for the morning,

yes, more than watchmen do for the morning.¹³

130:7 O Israel, hope in the Lord,

for the Lord exhibits loyal love,¹⁴

and is more than willing to deliver.¹⁵

130:8 He will deliver¹⁶ Israel

from all the consequences of their sins.¹⁷

[130:2] ¹tn Heb “my voice.”

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

[130:3] ³tn Heb “observe.”

[130:3] ⁴tn 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] ⁵tn Or “surely.”

[130:4] ⁶tn Heb “for with you [there is] forgiveness.”

[130:4] ⁷tn Or “consequently you are.”

[130:4] ⁸tn Heb “feared.”

[130:5] ⁹tn Or “wait for.”

[130:5] ¹⁰tn Heb “my soul waits.”

[130:5] ¹¹tn Heb “his word.”

[130:6] ¹²tn Heb “my soul for the master.”

[130:6] ¹³tn 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] ¹⁴tn Heb “for with the Lord [is] loyal love.”

[130:7] ¹⁵tn Heb “and abundantly with him [is] redemption.”

[130:8] ¹⁶tn Or “redeem.”

[130:8] ¹⁷tn The Hebrew noun עָוֹן (’avon) can refer to sin, the guilt sin produces, or the consequences of sin. Only here is the noun collocated with the verb פָּדָה (padah, “to redeem; to deliver”). The psalmist may refer to forgiveness per se (v. 4), but the emphasis in this context is likely on deliverance from the national consequences of sin. See L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 192.