1A Song of degrees. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.2Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.3If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?4But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.5I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.6My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.7Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.8And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
What’s happening. Another Song of Ascents, and one of the psalms of repentance. The writer is in “the depths”, overwhelmed by trouble and aware of his own sin.
What it means. If God kept a record of every sin, no one could stand. But with God there is forgiveness. So the psalmist waits for the Lord, more than night watchmen wait for morning. It is honest about guilt and full of hope.