Mondays with the New Psalms: Psalm 130

Psalm 130 (De profundis)


A song of ascents.

Out of the depths I call to you, LORD;

Lord, hear my cry!

May your ears be attentive

to my cry for mercy.

If you, LORD, keep account of sins,

Lord, who can stand?

But with you is forgiveness

and so you are revered.

I wait for the LORD,

my soul waits

and I hope for his word.

My soul looks for the Lord

more than sentinels for daybreak.

More than sentinels for daybreak,

let Israel hope in the LORD,

For with the LORD is mercy,

with him is plenteous redemption,

And he will redeem Israel

from all its sins.

-NABRE

A Song of Ascents.

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;

Lord, hear my voice!

O let your ears be attentive

to the sound of my pleadings

If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,

Lord, who could stand?

But with you is found forgiveness,

that you may be revered.

I long for you, O LORD,

my soul longs for his word.

My soul hopes in the Lord

more than watchmen for daybreak.

More than watchmen for daybreak,

let Israel hope for the LORD.

For with the LORD there is mercy,

in him is plentiful redemption.

It is he who will redeem Israel

from all its iniquities.

-Revised Grail Psalms

NABRE Notes:

[Psalm 130] This lament, a Penitential Psalm, is the De profundis used in liturgical prayers for the faithful departed. In deep sorrow the psalmist cries to God (Ps 130:1–2), asking for mercy (Ps 130:3–4). The psalmist’s trust (Ps 130:5–6) becomes a model for the people (Ps 130:7–8).

[130:1] The depths: Sheol here is a metaphor of total misery. Deep anguish makes the psalmist feel “like those descending to the pit” (Ps 143:7).

[130:4] And so you are revered: the experience of God’s mercy leads one to a greater sense of God.