Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
English Standard Version (ESV)
Even in overwhelming distress, "depths" here isn't just about external trouble, but a profound inner crisis, a deep sense of sin and its consequences. This isn't a casual plea; it's a desperate cry from the absolute lowest point of one's being, recognizing utter helplessness apart from God.
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This Psalm, a prayer for mercy, begins with the psalmist crying out from a place of overwhelming distress, picturing himself in deep waters or a pit. This cry isn't just about personal trouble, but potentially national suffering, where Israel feels submerged by danger and sin. It sets the stage for a desperate plea for God's pardon, born from a deep sense of need and acknowledging guilt.
When life feels like it's drowning you, where do you turn? This psalm begins with a raw, gut-wrenching cry from the lowest point imaginable.
The "depths" here aren't just a bad day or a minor inconvenience. The Hebrew word paints a picture of overwhelming calamity, a place so low it feels like being swallowed by the sea. It can represent intense personal suffering, but also the crushing weight of national disaster or the profound despair that comes from recognizing the depths of one's sin.
Think of it this way: these aren't gentle ripples of trouble. These are crushing waves, a sea of distress threatening to pull you under entirely. Yet, paradoxically, this abyss is the very place that drives the Psalmist to God, not away from Him.
It's easy to stop praying when things get bad. But this verse reveals a prayer that doesn't give up, even when hope seems lost.
The Psalmist uses the past tense, "I cry" (or "have cried"), suggesting this isn't a brand new plea. It's a prayer that has been ongoing, possibly for a long time. This isn't a half-hearted whisper; it's a "cry" – an urgent, heartfelt plea born out of genuine desperation.
Even when overwhelmed by the "depths," the key is who the cry is directed to: "O LORD!" This cry acknowledges God's power and sovereignty, even in the midst of suffering. It's a testament to faith that persists, believing that God hears even from the most unimaginable circumstances.
Understand the original words
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ma'amaqqim · Hebrew Noun
A Hebrew idiom referring to a state of extreme distress, chaotic circumstances, or the overwhelming depths of trouble, often used figuratively to describe being in the 'depths' of sin or trial.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God (Yahweh) revealed to Israel, signifying His self-existence, faithfulness, and eternal nature.
Adonai · Hebrew Noun
A respectful title for God (Adonai), meaning 'Lord' or 'Master,' emphasizing His authority and sovereignty over the speaker.
tachanun · Hebrew Noun
A cry or petition for undeserved favor, specifically acknowledging one's inability to merit God's help and relying entirely on His compassion.
This psalm arose from the profound national suffering of the Babylonian exile, where the people felt utterly overwhelmed and distant from God. The 'depths' refer to both their national catastrophe and their deep sense of sin and separation from the divine presence.
c. 597 BC
First Deportation of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and many of Jerusalem's elite to Babylon, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population to Babylon. This event plunges the survivors into deep despair.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquers the Babylonian Empire, paving the way for the return of Jewish exiles to their homeland.
c. 538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish people to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple.
This verse uses the same imagery of being in deep, overwhelming waters, emphasizing the feeling of being submerged and struggling to survive, mirroring the 'depths' mentioned in Psalms 130:1.
Jonah 2:2Jonah's prayer from the belly of the fish vividly illustrates being in a desperate, inescapable situation ('out of the belly of Sheol I cried') that forces a reliance on God, much like the cry from the 'depths'.
Lamentations 3:55This passage speaks of crying out from a place of extreme distress and perceived abandonment, echoing the sentiment of calling to God from the deepest of troubles when all other hope seems lost.
Isaiah 43:2This verse promises God's presence and protection even when passing through the most tumultuous waters or deepest trials, offering a divine reassurance that complements the psalmist's desperate cry.
pulpitPsalms 130:1: "<> Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD."
Verse 1. - Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord (comp. Psalm 69:2, 14; Isaiah 51:10; Ezekiel 27:34). "The depths" are the lowest abysses of calamity. They have not, however, separated Israel from God, but have rather brought him to God.
clarkePsalms 130:1: "A Song of degrees. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD."
Out of the depths - The captives in Babylon represent their condition like those who are in a prison - an abyss or deep ditch, ready to be swallowed up.
Even in overwhelming distress, "depths" here isn't just about external trouble, but a profound inner crisis, a deep sense of sin and its consequences. This isn't a casual plea; it's a desperate cry from the absolute lowest point of one's being, recognizing utter helplessness apart from God.
This Psalm, a prayer for mercy, begins with the psalmist crying out from a place of overwhelming distress, picturing himself in deep waters or a pit. This cry isn't just about personal trouble, but potentially national suffering, where Israel feels submerged by danger and sin. It sets the stage for a desperate plea for God's pardon, born from a deep sense of need and acknowledging guilt.
This Psalm, a prayer for mercy, begins with the psalmist crying out from a place of overwhelming distress, picturing himself in deep waters or a pit. This cry isn't just about personal trouble, but potentially national suffering, where Israel feels submerged by danger and sin. It sets the stage for a desperate plea for God's pardon, born from a deep sense of need and acknowledging guilt.
"Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!" — Even in overwhelming distress, "depths" here isn't just about external trouble, but a profound inner crisis, a deep sense of sin and its consequences. This isn't a casual plea; it's a desperate cry f…
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Last reviewed October 2026