Net English TranslationPsalms 130 =

Psalm 1301

130

1 A song of ascents.2

From the deep water3 I cry out to you, O Lord.
2 O Lord, listen to me!4
Pay attention to5 my plea for mercy!
3 If you, O Lord, were to keep track of6 sins,
O Lord, who could stand before you?7
4 But8 you are willing to forgive,9
so that you might10 be honored.11
5 I rely on12 the Lord,
I rely on him with my whole being;13
I wait for his assuring word.14
6 I yearn for the Lord,15
more than watchmen do for the morning,
yes, more than watchmen do for the morning.16
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord,
for the Lord exhibits loyal love,17
and is more than willing to deliver.18
8 He will deliver19 Israel
from all the consequences of their sins.20
1sn Psalm 130. The psalmist, confident of the Lord’s forgiveness, cries out to the Lord for help in the midst of his suffering and urges Israel to do the same. 2sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21. 3tn Heb “depths,” that is, deep waters (see Ps 69:2, 14; Isa 51:10), a metaphor for the life-threatening danger faced by the psalmist. 4tn Heb “my voice.” 5tn Heb “may your ears be attentive to the voice of.” 6tn Heb “observe.” 7tn The words “before you” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The psalmist must be referring to standing before God’s judgment seat. The rhetorical question expects the answer, “No one.” 8tn Or “surely.” 9tn Heb “for with you [there is] forgiveness.” 10tn Or “consequently you are.” 11tn Heb “feared.” 12tn Or “wait for.” 13tn Heb “my soul waits.” 14tn Heb “his word.” 15tn Heb “my soul for the master.” 16tn Heb “more than watchmen for the morning, watchmen for the morning.” The words “yes, more” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. 17tn Heb “for with the Lord [is] loyal love.” 18tn Heb “and abundantly with him [is] redemption.” 19tn Or “redeem.” 20tn The Hebrew noun עָוֹן (’avon) can refer to sin, the guilt sin produces, or the consequences of sin. Only here is the noun collocated with the verb פָּדָה (padah, “to redeem; to deliver”). The psalmist may refer to forgiveness per se (v. 4), but the emphasis in this context is likely on deliverance from the national consequences of sin. See L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 192.
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