Psalms 130:3
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If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand?
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
This psalm relates not to any temporal concern, either personal or public, but it is wholly taken up with the affairs of the soul. It is reckoned one of the seven penitential psalms, which have sometimes been made use of by penitents, upon their admission into the church; and, in singing it, we are all concerned to apply it to ourselves. The psalmist here expresses, I. His desire towards God (Psa 130:1, Psa 130:2). II. His repentance before God (Psa 130:3, Psa 130:4). III. His attendance upon God (Psa 130:5, Psa 130:6). IV. His expectations from God (Psa 130:7, Psa 130:8). And, as in water face answers to face, so does the heart of one humble penitent to another. A song of degrees.
Open source ↗130:3 The psalmist knows that his sins make him guilty and deserving of God’s judgment.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.
You alone are to be feared. When You are angry, who can stand before You?
Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure His burning anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; even rocks are shattered before Him.
If I sinned, You would take note, and would not acquit me of my iniquity.
For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”
What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?
But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap.
Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty.
We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.