Psalm 141:1 kjv
Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
Psalm 141:1 nkjv
A Psalm of David. LORD, I cry out to You; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.
Psalm 141:1 niv
A psalm of David. I call to you, LORD, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you.
Psalm 141:1 esv
O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
Psalm 141:1 nlt
O LORD, I am calling to you. Please hurry!
Listen when I cry to you for help!
Psalm 141 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 70:5 | But I am poor and needy; Make haste to me, O God! | Urgent plea for quick help |
| Psa 22:19 | But You, O LORD, do not be far from me; O my Strength, make haste to help me! | Appeal for close, swift aid in distress |
| Psa 40:13 | Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; O LORD, make haste to help me. | Similar plea for divine deliverance |
| Psa 71:12 | O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! | Reiterates request for immediate assistance |
| Psa 18:6 | In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God; | Crying out to God in distress |
| Psa 6:9 | The LORD has heard my supplication; The LORD will receive my prayer. | Confidence in God hearing prayer |
| Psa 34:17 | The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. | God hears the cries of the righteous |
| 1 John 5:14-15 | If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us... | Assurance of God hearing faithful prayers |
| Isa 58:9 | Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, "Here I am." | God's readiness to answer |
| Joel 2:32 | And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. | Efficacy of calling upon the LORD |
| Lam 3:56 | You have heard my voice; Do not hide Your ear from my sighing. | Plea for God's attentive ear in suffering |
| Psa 3:4 | I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. | God hearing a vocal cry |
| Psa 34:4 | I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. | Seeking and being heard by God |
| Psa 77:1 | I cried out to God with my voice—To God with my voice; And He gave ear to me. | Persistent vocal prayer and God's attentiveness |
| Psa 107:6 | Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He delivered them out of their distresses. | Calling upon God in times of trouble |
| Rom 10:13 | "For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." | Universal call on the LORD for salvation |
| Heb 5:7 | Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications... with fervent cries and tears... was heard... | Christ's example of fervent, vocal prayer |
| Psa 5:2 | Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, For to You I will pray. | Call for God to heed the cry |
| Psa 17:6 | I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me... | Expectation of God's hearing |
| Dan 9:18 | Incline Your ear, O my God, and hear; open Your eyes and see... | Similar prayer for God's attention |
| Psa 91:15 | He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; | God's promise to answer calls |
| Exod 34:6-7 | The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering... | Nature of the LORD (Yahweh) to whom prayer is directed |
| Psa 55:16-17 | As for me, I will call upon God, And the LORD shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray... | Habit of prayer and calling on God |
Psalm 141 verses
Psalm 141 1 Meaning
Psalm 141:1 is an earnest and urgent plea from the psalmist, often identified as David, to God for immediate divine attention and intervention. It conveys a deep sense of dependence and distress, where the supplicant cries out to the LORD, imploring Him to listen attentively and act swiftly. The repetition emphasizes the sincerity and desperation of the prayer, highlighting the psalmist's primary recourse in times of trouble: turning directly and fervently to the living God.
Psalm 141 1 Context
Psalm 141 is traditionally attributed to David, a "Maschil" (instructive psalm), believed to be written during a period of intense persecution or exile, possibly when fleeing from Saul or later during Absalom's rebellion. The immediate context of verse 1 sets the tone for a prayer characterized by urgent need and profound trust. The psalmist is surrounded by unrighteousness and temptation, reflected in subsequent verses where he prays against falling into sin, against the wicked, and for righteous guidance. This opening verse is the fervent outpouring of a soul in crisis, appealing directly to the covenant God for swift rescue and preservation from moral and physical harm.
Psalm 141 1 Word analysis
- LORD (יהוה - Yahweh): This is the most significant name of God in the Old Testament, representing God's covenant relationship with His people and His self-existent, faithful nature. When the psalmist cries "LORD," he is appealing not to a distant deity, but to the personal, powerful, and ever-present God who has promised to hear and act on behalf of His children. This appeals to God's character as both mighty deliverer and loving covenant keeper.
- I cry (קָרָא - qara'): Meaning "to call, summon, proclaim, cry out aloud." This is not a casual request but an intense, vocal outpouring of deep emotional distress, desperation, and sincere reliance. It suggests a strong and public declaration of dependence, often used in moments of grave danger or profound need, indicating a heartfelt, urgent appeal.
- unto thee (אֵלֶיךָ - 'elēykā): This specifies the directness and intentionality of the prayer. It is exclusively directed towards God, not to idols, human aid, or fate. This highlights exclusive trust and dedication.
- make haste (חוּשׁ - ḥush): Meaning "to hasten, hurry, act quickly." This imperative underscores the psalmist's sense of immediate urgency. It's a petition for swift, not merely eventual, intervention, suggesting that the situation is pressing and the psalmist desires prompt relief from his distress. It shows absolute trust in God's power to act quickly and effectively.
- unto me (לִי - lī): Defines the beneficiary and direction of the requested haste. The action is specifically desired for the psalmist's personal relief and rescue.
- give ear (אָזַן - 'azan): Meaning "to listen, give ear, pay attention to." This is more than just hearing sounds; it implies an attentive, considerate hearing that leads to a response. It signifies the desire for God's personal attention, comprehension, and favorable consideration of the plea, showing intimacy in the prayer.
- unto my voice (לְקוֹלִי - lᵉqōlî): "Voice" (קֹול - qol) refers to sound, audible speech, or even thunder. Here, it denotes the specific sounds of the psalmist's urgent supplication. This reiterates the vocal and profound nature of his cry, distinguishing it from mere thought, emphasizing a desperate audible prayer seeking to reach the divine ear.
- when I cry unto thee (בְּקָרְאִי אֵלֶיךָ - bᵉqāʾrî 'ēlēykā): This repetition reinforces the central action and theme. The prayer for God's ear and swift response is contingent upon and arises from the very act of the psalmist crying out to Him. It grounds the expectation of divine intervention in the ongoing and persistent nature of his supplication, underscoring both the immediacy of the present call and the psalmist's consistent practice of turning to God. It highlights a core spiritual habit.
Psalm 141 1 Bonus section
The structure of Psalm 141:1 showcases an ABAB chiastic or parallel structure where "I cry unto thee" brackets the central pleas for divine action. This rhetorical device emphasizes the foundational nature of calling upon God as the basis for receiving divine aid. The "voice" mentioned suggests a prayer that is not silent, reflecting a common ancient Near Eastern practice of vocal, often loud, supplication to deity, especially in dire circumstances. The theological implication is that true prayer engages the whole being—mind, spirit, and voice—in direct address to the Sovereign. The intensity of the words suggests a moment where the psalmist feels his only hope is the Lord's immediate and direct intervention, bypassing any human intermediaries or earthly solutions.
Psalm 141 1 Commentary
Psalm 141:1 is a fervent invocation reflecting deep reliance on God. It establishes a direct, intimate, and urgent relationship between the supplicant and Yahweh. The psalmist is not merely uttering words; he is crying out, pouring forth his soul with desperate urgency for God's attention. The double plea to "make haste" and "give ear" emphasizes a twofold need: for God to acknowledge his distress (hearing) and to act decisively and promptly (hastening). This verse sets the stage for a prayer seeking both spiritual preservation from sin and physical deliverance from evil, grounding all future pleas in a confident appeal to the active, attentive presence of the LORD. It's a model for approaching God with a burdened heart, expressing absolute dependence and trust in His power to respond.
- Practical Examples: A Christian facing overwhelming temptation might echo, "LORD, I cry unto you: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice!" A believer in a life-threatening crisis instantly looks up, praying "make haste!" An individual struggling with spiritual dryness persists in prayer, saying, "give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto Thee."