Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
Lord {H136}, hear {H8085} my voice {H6963}: let thine ears {H241} be attentive {H7183} to the voice {H6963} of my supplications {H8469}.
hear my cry, Adonai! Let your ears pay attention to the sound of my pleading.
O Lord, hear my voice; let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy.
Lord, hear my voice: Let thine ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications.
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2 Chronicles 6:40
Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and [let] thine ears [be] attent unto the prayer [that is made] in this place. -
Psalms 61:1
¶ To the chief Musician upon Neginah, [A Psalm] of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. -
Psalms 61:2
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock [that] is higher than I. -
Isaiah 37:17
Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God. -
Daniel 9:17
Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. -
Daniel 9:19
O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. -
Nehemiah 1:11
O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.
Psalms 130:2 is a profound and urgent plea from a soul in distress, calling out to God for immediate and attentive hearing. Following the opening verse which speaks of crying 'out of the depths,' this verse articulates the fervent desire for divine attention to one's earnest prayers. It encapsulates a universal human experience of needing God to truly listen when life's challenges or personal failings weigh heavily.
Context
This verse is part of Psalm 130, one of the "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), traditionally sung by pilgrims journeying to Jerusalem for annual feasts. It is also categorized as a penitential psalm, often associated with confession and seeking forgiveness from God. The plea in Psalms 130:1, 'Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord,' sets the stage for this desperate call for God's ears to be truly attentive. The psalmist acknowledges a desperate situation, implying a need for divine intervention that only a truly listening God can provide.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word translated "Lord" in this verse is YHWH (Yahweh), God's covenant name, emphasizing His personal and relational nature with His people. The term "supplications" comes from the Hebrew teḥinnot (תְּחִנּוֹת), which conveys prayers for grace, mercy, or favor, often in acknowledgement of one's own unworthiness or desperate need. This isn't a demand, but a humble plea for unmerited kindness and intervention from the Almighty.
Related Scriptures
The psalmist's confidence in God's willingness to listen echoes throughout Scripture. The prophet Jeremiah assures us that God promises to hear us when we seek Him with all our heart (Jeremiah 29:12). This fervent appeal for God's undivided attention is a common theme in the Psalms, reflecting a deep trust that the Lord hears the cry of the righteous and delivers them out of all their troubles (Psalms 34:17). The New Testament also affirms that God's ears are open to the prayers of the righteous (1 Peter 3:12).
Practical Application
Psalms 130:2 offers profound encouragement for believers today. It reminds us that no matter how deep our distress or how great our sin, God is accessible and willing to listen. Our prayers should be earnest, heartfelt, and persistent, expressing our true needs and desires. This verse teaches us to approach God with humility, confident that He not only hears our voice but is also attentive to the deepest longings and needs expressed in our supplications, offering hope and the promise of divine response.