Psalm 130 for Sunday
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1 שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלֹות מִמַּעֲמַקִּים קְרָאתִיךָ יְהוָה׃
2 אֲדֹנָי שִׁמְעָה בְקֹולִי תִּהְיֶינָה אָזְנֶיךָ קַשֻּׁבֹות לְקֹול תַּחֲנוּנָי׃
3 אִם־עֲוֹנֹות תִּשְׁמָר־יָהּ אֲדֹנָי מִי יַעֲמֹד׃
4 כִּי־עִמְּךָ הַסְּלִיחָה לְמַעַן תִּוָּרֵא׃
5 קִוִּיתִי יְהוָה קִוְּתָה נַפְשִׁי וְלִדְבָרֹו הֹוחָלְתִּי׃
6 נַפְשִׁי לַאדֹנָי מִשֹּׁמְרִים לַבֹּקֶר שֹׁמְרִים לַבֹּקֶר׃
7 יַחֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־יְהוָה כִּי־עִם־יְהוָה הַחֶסֶד וְהַרְבֵּה עִמֹּו פְדוּת׃
8 וְהוּא יִפְדֶּה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִכֹּל עֲוֹנֹתָיו׃
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Psalm 130
A Song of Ascents.
Out of the depths have I called Thee, O LORD.
Lord, hearken unto my voice;
let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
If Thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
For with Thee there is forgiveness, that Thou mayest be feared.
I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope.
My soul waiteth for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning; yea, more than watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption.
And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Out of the depths have I called Thee, O LORD.
Lord, hearken unto my voice;
let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
If Thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
For with Thee there is forgiveness, that Thou mayest be feared.
I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope.
My soul waiteth for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning; yea, more than watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption.
And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
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130 De profundis
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1
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Out of the depths have I called to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice;
let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.
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2
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If you, LORD, were to note what is done amiss,
O LORD, who could stand?
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3
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For there is forgiveness with you;
therefore you shall be feared.
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4
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I wait for the LORD; my soul waits for him;
in his word is my hope.
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5
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My soul waits for the LORD,
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
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6
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O Israel, wait for the LORD, *
for with the LORD there is mercy;
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7
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With him there is plenteous redemption, *
and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins.
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No matter how we cut it, it’s a Hebrew psalm. Regardless which of many English translations we prefer, we’re still looking at a translation, not the words of the poet. The first English above is a Jewish scholar’s translation online. The second is the BCP version appointed for our reading in church this coming Sunday, July 1st. As with all the psalms appointed in the lectionary, Psalm 130 is meant to respond to the Old Testament reading for the day, and it does that reasonably, in sympathy with David’s lament (2 Samuel chapter one) over the death of Saul and Jonathan.
The psalm can be appropriated personally, and eerily fits this particular week when many in Bay County are reeling emotionally in sympathy with families at the untimely deaths of dear ones. The psalm is unlike many personal laments in that, although hopeful, it does not end with a joyful burst of spontaneous praise to God for deliverance in answer to the plea. Maybe that makes it especially suited to our hearts and minds at the moment.
The Message version below is a bit free for my taste and preferences, and the psalmist might be astonished. But many folks may prefer it.
Psalm 130 The Message (MSG) A Pilgrim Song
Help, God—the bottom has fallen out of my life!
Master, hear my cry for help!
Listen hard! Open your ears!
Listen to my cries for mercy.
If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings,
who would stand a chance?
As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit,
and that's why you're worshiped.
I pray to God—my life a prayer—
and wait for what he'll say and do.
My life's on the line before God, my Lord,
waiting and watching till morning,
waiting and watching till morning.
O Israel, wait and watch for God—
with God's arrival comes love,
with God's arrival comes generous redemption.
No doubt about it—he'll redeem Israel,
buy back Israel from captivity to sin.
TW+ in +Time