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Psalms 130

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A Cry from the Depths 1–2

1
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Jehovah. ​
2
Lord, hear my voice: Let thine ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications.

Forgiveness is the Foundation of Hope 3–4

3
If thou, Jehovah, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? ​
4
But there is forgiveness with thee, That thou mayest be feared. ​

Waiting Patiently on God's Word 5–6

5
I wait for Jehovah, my soul doth wait, And in his word do I hope. ​
6
My soul waiteth for the Lord More than watchmen wait for the morning; Yea, more thanwatchmen for the morning. ​

Hope and Redemption for Israel 7–8

7
O Israel, hope in Jehovah; For with Jehovah there is lovingkindness, And with him is plenteous redemption. ​
8
And he will redeem Israel From all his iniquities.

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for Psalms 130

Verse 1

Out of the depths — Maamaq, a deep place, is used of the 'deep waters' where the sinking man cries in Ps 69:2, 14 and of the sea in Isa 51:10. Jonah prays 'out of the belly of hell' (Jon 2:2). The depths are the place of the cry, and the one cried to is named at once, 'unto thee, O LORD'.

Verse 3

shouldest mark iniquities — The first name here is Yah, the short form of the divine name, followed by Adonai. Shamar, 'mark', is the verb of keeping (Ps 121), now used of keeping a record of sins, as in Job 10:14, 'If I sin, then thou markest me'. 'Who shall stand?' (amad) is the question behind Ps 143:2, 'in thy sight shall no man living be justified'.

Verse 4

there is forgiveness with thee — Selichah, pardon, occurs only here, in Neh 9:17 ('a God ready to pardon') and in Dan 9:9, 'To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses'. The verse gives pardon as the reason he is feared (yare, reverenced).

Verse 5

in his word do I hope — Qavah, to wait, is to be bound together, drawn tight like a cord, and is said twice, of the man and of his 'soul' (nephesh). Yachal, 'hope', is the verb with which v.7 calls all Israel to hope. What is waited on is 'his word' (dabar), the promise already given.

Verse 6

more than they that watch for the morning — Shamar, the verb of keeping, is here the watchman's vigil, and the line is said twice. Ps 134:1 names those who 'by night stand in the house of the LORD'. The soul waits for 'the Lord' (Adonai) as the watchers wait for dawn (boqer).

Verse 7

plenteous redemption — Chesed is covenant mercy. 'Redemption' (pedut) occurs only here, in Ps 111:9 ('He sent redemption unto his people'), in Exod 8:23 (where it is 'division') and in Isa 50:2 ('redeem'). 'Plenteous' (rabah) is to multiply, set against the iniquities of v.3. The next verse names what is redeemed: 'Israel from all his iniquities'.