Psalm 130:2 kjv
Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
Psalm 130:2 nkjv
Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications.
Psalm 130:2 niv
Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
Psalm 130:2 esv
O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
Psalm 130:2 nlt
Hear my cry, O Lord.
Pay attention to my prayer.
Psalm 130 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 4:3 | The LORD hears when I call to him. | God's faithfulness in hearing prayer. |
| Ps 18:6 | In my distress I called upon the LORD; he heard my voice. | God hears pleas from distress. |
| Ps 34:15 | The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are open to their cry. | God's constant attentiveness to the righteous. |
| Ps 65:2 | O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come. | God as the ultimate Hearer of prayer. |
| Ps 116:1-2 | I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me... | Direct echo of Psa 130:2, God's attentiveness. |
| Isa 59:1 | The LORD's hand is not shortened...nor his ear dull, that it cannot hear. | God's unimpeded power to hear and save. |
| 1 Kgs 8:28-30 | Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant... that your eyes may be open night and day...hear in heaven your dwelling place... | Solomon's temple dedication, plea for God's hearing. |
| Jer 29:12-13 | Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you... | God's promise to hear those who seek Him. |
| Lam 3:55-56 | I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit; you heard my plea... | Echoes "from the depths," a plea for God to hear. |
| Dan 9:18 | For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. | The basis for hearing pleas is God's mercy, not human merit. |
| Joel 2:12-13 | Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful... | God's merciful nature prompts hearing and forgiveness. |
| Jon 2:2, 7 | I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me... My prayer came to you... | Jonah's prayer from desperation, God's hearing. |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy... | Approach God with confidence for grace and mercy. |
| Heb 5:7 | In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears...and he was heard... | Christ's example of fervent supplication. |
| Mk 10:47-48 | Bartimaeus cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" | Example of fervent plea for mercy being heard. |
| Lk 18:13-14 | The tax collector... saying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" | Example of humble and contrite plea for mercy. |
| Jas 5:16 | The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. | Emphasis on the efficacy of prayer. |
| 1 Jn 5:14-15 | This is the confidence...if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us... | Confidence in God hearing prayer aligned with His will. |
| Prov 15:29 | The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. | Contrast; God hears the repentant. |
| 2 Chr 7:14-15 | Then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin...Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer... | God promises to hear His people's prayers upon repentance. |
| Neh 1:6 | Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant. | Nehemiah's plea for God's attentiveness. |
| Ps 17:6 | I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. | A direct plea for God to incline His ear and hear. |
Psalm 130 verses
Psalm 130 2 Meaning
Psalm 130:2 is an earnest and urgent supplication to God. It expresses a fervent desire for God to not merely perceive sound, but to actively and intentionally attend to the desperate cry of the petitioner for mercy. It highlights a personal, direct appeal from deep spiritual distress, relying solely on God's compassionate nature.
Psalm 130 2 Context
Psalm 130 is one of the "Songs of Ascent" (Psalms 120-134), traditionally sung by pilgrims traveling "up" to Jerusalem for the great annual festivals. These psalms often express themes of anticipation, pilgrimage difficulties, and dependence on God for journey and purification. As one of the seven "Penitential Psalms" (Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143), Psalm 130 specifically addresses a cry for mercy and forgiveness "out of the depths" (v. 1), likely spiritual despair or conviction of sin. Verse 2 immediately follows this confession, demonstrating the psalmist's urgent and singular hope that God, the only true source of deliverance, will pay close attention and respond to his fervent prayer, in contrast to inanimate idols incapable of hearing.
Psalm 130 2 Word analysis
Lord (אֲדֹנָי, Adonai): This term signifies God's absolute sovereignty and mastery. Used in addressing God directly, it expresses a humble yet reverent acknowledgement of His power and authority, essential for a plea from the "depths." It underscores the petitioner's submission and dependence.
hear (שׁמע, shama'): More than merely perceiving sound, shama' in Hebrew implies an active, responsive hearing that leads to action. It conveys listening with understanding, intention, and readiness to comply or respond. The psalmist is not asking for God to passively acknowledge sound, but to intervene.
my voice (קוֹלִי, qoli): Refers to the audible expression of the prayer, but signifies the full intensity of the inner cry and longing. It suggests a direct, personal, and urgent communication emanating from a desperate heart.
Let your ears (אָזְנֶיךָ, oznayikha): An anthropomorphism attributing human physical features to God. This vivid imagery conveys the intensely personal and focused attention desired from God. It highlights God's accessibility and His capacity for intimate engagement with His creation.
be attentive (קַשּׁוּבָה, qashuva): Derived from the root 'qashav,' meaning to pay close heed, incline the ear, or listen carefully and intentionally. It suggests a focused and sustained attention, beyond mere hearing, demonstrating genuine interest and engagement with the petitioner's need.
to the voice of my pleas for mercy (לְקוֹל תַּחֲנוּנוָי, le'qol tachanunai):
- voice (קוֹל, qol): Repetition of "voice" emphasizes the profound intensity and specific nature of the supplication.
- pleas for mercy (תַּחֲנוּנוָי, tachanunai): From the root 'chanan,' meaning to be gracious, show favor, or bestow a gift. These are requests for undeserved favor or grace, rooted in a humble recognition of one's own unworthiness and utter dependence on God's kindness. It is a cry for clemency rather than a claim of right.
"Lord, hear my voice!": This phrase is a direct, imperative address, a cry for immediate and personal divine intervention. It embodies the core desperation of the psalm's opening, establishing the urgent nature of the petitioner's appeal to his sovereign God.
"Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!": This repetition intensifies the petition. The first half requests hearing, the second half specifies the type of hearing – one of active, concentrated attention given to a plea rooted in unworthiness but hoping in divine grace. It moves beyond a general hearing to an intentional, compassionate listening that would lead to a favorable response. This twofold appeal reflects the profound earnestness of one crying from "the depths."
Psalm 130 2 Bonus section
The anthropomorphism present in "Let your ears be attentive" is not meant to imply that God has physical ears. Instead, it is a literary device chosen to emphasize the warmth, responsiveness, and accessibility of the Creator to His creatures. Unlike the lifeless idols of pagan worship which "have ears but do not hear" (Ps 115:6), the God of Israel is alive, personal, and fully capable of both hearing and responding. This subtle polemic underscores the unique nature of the God of the Bible as one who enters into a profound, intimate relationship with His people, actively listening to their laments and prayers. The psalmist's urgent plea builds upon this foundational truth of God's relational character.
Psalm 130 2 Commentary
Psalm 130:2 powerfully conveys the intensity of a soul crying out to God in profound distress, primarily for mercy and forgiveness. The psalmist’s urgent, repeated call for God to "hear" and for His "ears to be attentive" signifies more than a desire for auditory perception; it is a desperate plea for active divine engagement and a compassionate response. This anthropomorphic language portrays God as personally invested and fully capable of bending His ear to human anguish. The "pleas for mercy" emphasize reliance not on merit, but on God's inherent grace and benevolent character, recognizing Him as the sole hope for salvation from deep spiritual burden or dire circumstance. It is a prayer for direct, empathetic, and efficacious attention from the Almighty. This earnest approach is a model for any believer seeking solace and intervention from God during trials or conviction.