Psalms 130

A penitential psalm crying from the depths for mercy.

Psalms 130 - Out of the Depths I Cried

Psalm 130 begins with one of the Psalter's most quoted lines, "out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD," as the writer asks who could stand if God marked every iniquity. Its urgent tone contrasts with the harsher plea against enemies in Psalms 129.


A Song of the Ascents. From depths I have called Thee, Jehovah.

Lord, hearken to my voice, Thine ears are attentive to the voice of my supplications.

If iniquities Thou dost observe, O Lord, who doth stand?

But with Thee `is' forgiveness, that Thou mayest be feared.

I hoped `for' Jehovah -- hoped hath my soul, And for His word I have waited.

My soul `is' for the Lord, More than those watching for morning, Watching for morning!

Israel doth wait on Jehovah, For with Jehovah `is' kindness, And abundant with Him `is' redemption.

And He doth redeem Israel from all his iniquities!

The psalmist's patient hope, waiting "more than they that watch for the morning," closely parallels the confident trust of <a href="/bible/ylt/psalms/chapter-33/20">Psalms 33:20</a>. Read more songs of ascent on the <a href="/bible/ylt/psalms">Psalms overview</a>, or move ahead to the quiet humility of <a href="/bible/ylt/psalms/chapter-131">Psalms 131</a>.