O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
English Standard Version (ESV)
David doesn't just ask God to listen; he cries out with an urgency that implies his situation is dire and requires immediate, divine intervention. The plea "hasten to me" isn't just a request for promptness, but a desperate recognition that without God's swift action, he might be lost.
O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
English Standard Version (ESV)
David is in desperate straits, facing intense persecution and the temptation to sin as a result. He cries out to God with urgency, recognizing his own inability to save himself and pleading for a swift divine intervention. The verses immediately following focus on his desire for God to guard his speech and heart against sin, even when provoked by enemies.
Why does the Psalmist repeat 'I cry' and 'when I cry'? It's more than just a word; it’s a cry from the heart of someone in deep trouble.
A Prayer Born of Crisis
David, likely in a time of intense persecution (perhaps from Saul), doesn't just ask for God's attention; he cries out. This isn't a polite request; it’s the sound of someone facing overwhelming danger, feeling completely helpless on their own. The repetition of "I cry" emphasizes the sheer desperation of his situation. He knows that only God can intervene.
The Urgency of "Hasten"
The plea to "hasten to me" isn't about impatience. It's a recognition that delay could be catastrophic. The commentaries highlight this: the need is pressing, there’s danger of being overcome, and immediate intervention is required. This isn't a prayer for a convenient time, but for God's swift action when all seems lost.
David isn't just making noise; he's offering his whole self. What makes his prayer so earnest?
Earnestness Over Formality
The commentaries point out that David’s prayers are never "formal" or "habitual." He was a man in "frequent troubles and difficulties," and he always sought help in God with deep sincerity. His prayer is described as supplication, groaning, and crying – the outpouring of a soul in distress.
The Sacrifice of Prayer
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This earnestness transforms prayer into a "spiritual sacrifice." When David asks God to "give ear to my voice," he’s not just asking to be heard, but for his prayer, offered through faith and sincerity, to be received by God. It’s the offering up of his affections and his very being to God, much like the ancient sacrifices were meant to be.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God in the Old Testament, representing His self-existence, faithfulness, and His commitment to His people. It is the name by which He revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush.
qetoreth · Hebrew Noun
A sweet-smelling substance burned in the tabernacle/temple; biblically, it symbolizes the rising of prayer and intercession to God, indicating that the worship is pleasing and acceptable to Him.
minchah · Hebrew Noun
An offering brought before God to provide atonement, express devotion, or express gratitude. In the evening, it signifies the culmination of the daily worship cycle.
This psalm reflects a moment of intense personal crisis, likely during David's fugitive years. His desperate cry to God for immediate help underscores the life-or-death stakes and the ever-present temptation to take matters into his own hands.
c. 1020 BC— this verse
David flees from Saul
Saul, consumed by jealousy, actively hunts David, forcing David into a life on the run, often in desolate places and relying on God for deliverance.
c. 1015 BC
David's increasing influence and threat
David becomes a notable figure, leading a band of men and gaining popularity, which further fuels Saul's paranoia and pursuit.
c. 1010 BC
David spares Saul's life
In the cave of En Gedi, David has a prime opportunity to kill Saul but spares him, demonstrating his commitment to God's timing for the kingship.
c. 1005 BC
David becomes King of Judah
Following Saul's death, David is anointed king over the tribe of Judah, marking a significant step toward unifying Israel but still facing opposition.
This passage echoes the desperate plea for God's immediate help, mirroring David's urgency in Psalm 141:1 when facing severe distress.
Psalms 70:1The repetition of 'Make haste, O God, to deliver me!' in this verse highlights a consistent theme of urgent prayer for rescue found in Psalm 141:1.
Psalms 102:2This verse shows a similar plea for God to 'hear my prayer' and 'let my cry come to you,' emphasizing the importance of God's attention to the cry of His people in their suffering.
Proverbs 1:28While Psalm 141:1 is a cry *to* God, Proverbs 1:28 shows the consequence of not calling *on* God in times of distress, revealing the wisdom of seeking Him first.
pulpitPsalms 141:1: "<> LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee."
Verse 1. - Lord, I cry unto thee; make haste unto me. The need is pressing and urgent. God is therefore entreated to "hasten" (comp. Psalm 22:19; Psalm 31:2; Psalm 38:22; Psalm 40:17, etc.). Give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee (comp. Psalm 102:2).
clarkePsalms 141:1: "A Psalm of David. LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee."
Lord, I cry unto thee - Many of David's Psalms begin with complaints; but they are not those of habitual plaint and peevishness. He was in frequent troubles and difficulties, and he always sought help in God. He ever appears in earnest; at no time is there any evidence that the devotion of David was formal. He prayed, meditated, supplicated, groaned, cried, and even roared,…
David doesn't just ask God to listen; he cries out with an urgency that implies his situation is dire and requires immediate, divine intervention. The plea "hasten to me" isn't just a request for promptness, but a desperate recognition that without God's swift action, he might be lost.
David is in desperate straits, facing intense persecution and the temptation to sin as a result. He cries out to God with urgency, recognizing his own inability to save himself and pleading for a swift divine intervention. The verses immediately following focus on his desire for God to guard his speech and heart against sin, even when provoked by enemies.
David is in desperate straits, facing intense persecution and the temptation to sin as a result. He cries out to God with urgency, recognizing his own inability to save himself and pleading for a swift divine intervention. The verses immediately following focus on his desire for God to guard his speech and heart against sin, even when provoked by enemies.
"O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!" — David doesn't just ask God to listen; he cries out with an urgency that implies his situation is dire and requires immediate, divine intervention. The plea "hasten to me" isn't just a request for p…
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Last reviewed October 2026