Psalms — Chapter 130

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1Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

2Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

3If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

4But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

5I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

6My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

7Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

8And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

1Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Jehovah.

2Lord, hear my voice: Let thine ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications.

3If thou, Jehovah, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

4But there is forgiveness with thee, That thou mayest be feared.

5I wait for Jehovah, my soul doth wait, And in his word do I hope.

6My soul [waiteth] for the Lord More than watchmen [wait] for the morning; [Yea, more than] watchmen for the morning.

7O Israel, hope in Jehovah; For with Jehovah there is lovingkindness, And with him is plenteous redemption.

8And he will redeem Israel From all his iniquities. Psalm 131 A Song of Ascents; of David.

1A song of ascents. From the deep water I cry out to you, O Lord.

2O Lord, listen to me. Pay attention to my plea for mercy.

3If you, O Lord, were to keep track of sins, O Lord, who could stand before you?

4But you are willing to forgive so that you might be honored.

5I rely on the Lord. I rely on him with my whole being; I wait for his assuring word.

6I yearn for the Lord, more than watchmen do for the morning, yes, more than watchmen do for the morning.

7O Israel, hope in the Lord, for the Lord exhibits loyal love and is more than willing to deliver.

8He will deliver Israel from all their sins.

1Out of the depths I have cried to you, Yahweh.

2Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my petitions.

3If you, Yah, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?

4But there is forgiveness with you, therefore you are feared.

5I wait for Yahweh. My soul waits. I hope in his word.

6My soul longs for the Lord more than watchmen long for the morning; more than watchmen for the morning.

7Israel, hope in Yahweh, for with Yahweh there is loving kindness. With him is abundant redemption.

8He will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Videos
Reflection

Summary

A Song of Ascents (penitential psalm) — 'Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD'; if He marked iniquities, none could stand; but there is forgiveness with Him; 'I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait.'

Authorship & Background

Author: Multiple authors — primarily David (73 psalms attributed), plus Asaph (12), Sons of Korah (11), Solomon (2), Moses (1), Heman (1), Ethan (1), and anonymous. The Psalter was compiled over approximately 1000 years and served as Israel's hymnal and prayer book. The book is divided into five 'books' (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150), paralleling the five books of Moses. Key themes: worship, lament, praise, trust, kingship, creation, wisdom, Messianic prophecy, and the full range of human emotion brought before God.
Classification: Song of Ascents / Penitential Psalm (De Profundis) Attributed Author: Anonymous Key Themes: Crying from the depths, God's forgiveness, waiting on God, hope in God's word, plenteous redemption, the fear that comes from forgiveness
Historical Context: Psalm 130 is the sixth of the seven Penitential Psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143) and one of the most profound in the Psalter. Known by its Latin name "De Profundis" ("Out of the depths"), it has been prayed at deathbeds, funerals, and in times of spiritual anguish for two millennia. Martin Luther identified this as one of the "Pauline psalms" (along with 32, 51, and 143) because of its emphasis on forgiveness by grace, not merit. The psalm moves from the depths (v.1) upward through forgiveness (vv.3-4), waiting (vv.5-6), to confident hope for all Israel (vv.7-8). It is a complete gospel in miniature: sin acknowledged, grace received, hope restored.
Structure:
  • Cry from the Depths (vv.1-2)
  • Forgiveness as the Basis of Fear (vv.3-4)
  • Waiting on God's Word (vv.5-6)
  • Hope for Complete Redemption (vv.7-8)

Map & Geography

  • No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.

Videos

The Bible Project — Psalms Overview

Reflection

  • 1. Cry from where you are (v.1). You don't need to clean up before praying. The depths are a valid starting point. God doesn't require you to climb up first — He hears from the abyss.
  • 2. If God kept score, no one would stand (v.3). This levels every person. The "good" person and the "bad" person are equally unable to stand before God's record-keeping. Only grace differentiates.
  • 3. Forgiveness produces reverence (v.4). If you find yourself taking God's grace lightly, you haven't understood it yet. True forgiveness produces not carelessness but awe — "that thou mayest be FEARED."
  • 4. Wait like a watchman for morning (v.6). If you're in a dark night of the soul, remember: morning WILL come. Wait for it with the certainty of dawn. God's faithfulness is as sure as sunrise.
  • 5. Plenteous redemption (v.7). Whatever your sin, God's redemption is more. Not barely enough, not reluctantly given — PLENTEOUS. He will redeem Israel from ALL iniquities (v.8). All. Not some. All.