What is psalm 130 in hebrew?

Psalm 130 in Hebrew is Shir HaMa'alot (שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת), "A Song of Ascents." It is one of the most beloved tehillim (psalms) in Jewish tradition, expressing deep longing for divine forgiveness and redemption from the depths of despair.

Key Takeaways

Psalm 130 opens with the famous words "Mimma'amakim" (מִמַּעֲמַקִּים) — "From the depths" — a cry to God from the lowest point of human experience.
It is one of the fifteen Shir HaMa'alot (Songs of Ascents), Psalms 120–134, traditionally associated with the fifteen steps of the Temple.
The psalm is recited during communal fast-day services as part of special prayers for divine response [Mishnah Ta'anit 2:3].
It contains a powerful theological message: forgiveness (selicha) is the very reason we come to fear God.
The Mishnah commentary connects this psalm to Jonah's prayer from the belly of the fish — both cries "from the depths" [English Explanation of Mishnah Taanit 2:4:7].

The Full Hebrew Text of Psalm 130

Verse 1

מִמַּעֲמַקִּ֖ים קְרָאתִ֣יךָ יְהֹוָֽה׃ Mimma'amakim kera'ticha Adonai. "From the depths I have called to You, O LORD."

Verse 2

אֲדֹנָי֮ שִׁמְעָ֢ה בְק֫וֹלִ֥י תִּהְיֶ֣ינָה אׇ֭זְנֶיךָ קַשֻּׁב֑וֹת לְ֝ק֗וֹל תַּחֲנוּנָֽי׃ Adonai shim'ah v'koli, tihyenah oznecha kashuvot l'kol tachanunai. "O Lord, hear my voice; let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications."

Verse 3

אִם־עֲוֺנ֥וֹת תִּשְׁמׇר־יָ֑הּ אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י מִ֣י יַעֲמֹֽד׃ Im avonot tishmar Yah, Adonai mi ya'amod. "If You, O God, were to keep account of iniquities — O Lord, who could stand?"

Verse 4

כִּֽי־עִמְּךָ֥ הַסְּלִיחָ֑ה לְ֝מַ֗עַן תִּוָּרֵֽא׃ Ki imcha ha-selichah, l'ma'an tivare. "For with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared."

Verse 5

קִוִּ֣יתִי יְ֭הֹוָה קִוְּתָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֑י וְֽלִדְבָר֥וֹ הוֹחָֽלְתִּי׃ Kiviti Adonai kivtah nafshi, v'lidvaro hochalti. "I hope in the LORD; my soul hopes, and in His word I wait."

Verse 6

נַפְשִׁ֥י לַאדֹנָ֑י מִשֹּׁמְרִ֥ים לַ֝בֹּ֗קֶר שֹׁמְרִ֥ים לַבֹּֽקֶר׃ Nafshi l'Adonai, mishomrim laboker, shomrim laboker. "My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning — watchmen for the morning."

Verse 7

יַחֵ֥ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֶל־יְ֫הֹוָ֥ה כִּֽי־עִם־יְהֹוָ֥ה הַחֶ֑סֶד וְהַרְבֵּ֖ה עִמּ֣וֹ פְדֽוּת׃ Yachel Yisrael el Adonai, ki im Adonai ha-chesed, v'harbeh imo fedut. "O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is chesed (loving-kindness), and with Him is abundant redemption."

Verse 8

וְ֭הוּא יִפְדֶּ֣ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מִ֝כֹּ֗ל עֲוֺנֹתָֽיו׃ V'hu yifdeh et Yisrael mikol avonotav. "And He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities."

Deeper Meaning & Significance

The Cry from the Depths

The opening word "Mimma'amakim" — "from the depths" — has been understood both literally and spiritually. It represents the lowest point a human soul can reach: suffering, sin, exile, or despair. The Mishnah commentary on Ta'anit connects this cry directly to Jonah's prayer from the belly of the whale, noting that both emerge from a place of complete helplessness [English Explanation of Mishnah Taanit 2:4:7].

Forgiveness as the Foundation of Awe

Verse 4 contains a profound paradox: "Ki imcha ha-selichah l'ma'an tivare" — "For with You is forgiveness, so that You may be feared." The Sefer HaIkkarim explains that this verse relates to the concept of hope (tikvah) — specifically the highest form of hope, which is hope of promise (trust in God's word), not merely hope for mercy [Sefer HaIkkarim, Forward 156]. Forgiveness, paradoxically, deepens our reverence for God rather than diminishing it.

Use in Halacha — Fast Day Services

The Mishnah in Ta'anit lists Psalm 130 as one of the special psalms recited during public fast-day services, specifically as part of the additional prayers added during times of communal distress such as drought [Mishnah Ta'anit 2:3]. This underscores its role as a communal cry for divine intervention.

The Three Types of Hope

The Sefer HaIkkarim (Chapter 47) teaches that hope is of three kinds:

Hope of mercy — hoping God will be compassionate
Hope of honor — hoping for personal vindication
Hope of promise — trusting in God's explicit word (the highest form)

Verses 4–5 of this psalm exemplify hope of promise, as the psalmist anchors his waiting not in emotion alone but in God's davar (word/promise).