The Bible — World English Bible

Psalm 130

In brief

Psalm 130 is a song of ascents, sung by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem. It starts in the depths, in a distress where all one can do is cry to God. The psalmist discovers that forgiveness is found with him, then waits for his promise with the patience of watchmen looking for the morning. The psalm ends with a call to all Israel: loving kindness and redemption are with Yahweh.

The chapter in 4 parts

  1. v. 1-2A cry out of the depths
  2. v. 3-4Forgiveness is found with God
  3. v. 5-6Waiting for the promise, as watchmen wait for the morning
  4. v. 7-8Israel, put your hope in Yahweh

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 there is loving kindness with Yahweh. Abundant redemption is with him.

8He will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Key verses

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

The psalm does not hide the depth of the distress. It is from there, without waiting to feel better, that the prayer rises.

Verse 3-4
If you, Yah, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, therefore you are feared.

No one could stand if God kept a record of sins. Yet forgiveness is found with him, and that forgiveness is what inspires reverence for God.

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

To hope does not mean to already possess: the psalmist waits for God's promise and leans on his word.

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

The image of the night watchmen expresses a sure waiting: the morning always comes in the end.

Bible verses to meditate on

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What the sermons say

2 Kings 21: Manasseh, the Worst King and God's ForgivenessSpeaking about Manasseh, Pastor Ogino quotes verses 3 and 4 to show a God whose forgiveness goes beyond imagination: if God kept a record of sins, no one would stand.Read the summary →20 Bible Verses About HopeVerse 5 is chosen among twenty verses about hope: the psalm begins in the depths and the believer chooses to hope there, because waiting for God's promise is already an act of faith.Read the summary →

Frequently asked questions about Psalm 130

What does Psalm 130 mean?

Psalm 130 is the prayer of someone who admits their wrongdoing and distress. There they discover that forgiveness is found with God, and they choose to wait for his promise with trust. The psalm ends in hope: loving kindness and redemption are with Yahweh.

Who wrote Psalm 130?

The text only says it is a song of ascents, without naming an author. These songs were sung by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem for the feasts. Christian tradition counts it among the psalms of repentance, with Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51 and 102.

How can I pray or meditate on Psalm 130?

Read it aloud, saying the first verse from what you are really going through. Pause at verses 3 and 4 to thank God for his forgiveness and to entrust your failings to him. Then stay in the waiting, as in verse 6, without hurrying to get an answer.

Articles quoting Psalm 130

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World English Bible translation — public domain.