130 1-2 Help, God—I’ve hit rock bottom!
    Master, hear my cry for help!
Listen hard! Open your ears!
    Listen to my cries for mercy.

3-4 If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings,
    who would stand a chance?
As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit,
    and that’s why you’re worshiped.

5-6 I pray to God—my life a prayer—
    and wait for what he’ll say and do.
My life’s on the line before God, my Lord,
    waiting and watching till morning,
    waiting and watching till morning.

7-8 O Israel, wait and watch for God
    with God’s arrival comes love,
    with God’s arrival comes generous redemption.
No doubt about it—he’ll redeem Israel,
    buy back Israel from captivity to sin.

A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord.

130 Lord, I cry out to you
    because I’m suffering so deeply.
Lord, listen to me.
    Pay attention to my cry for your mercy.

Lord, suppose you kept a close watch on sins.
    Lord, who then wouldn’t be found guilty?
But you forgive.
    So we can serve you with respect.

With all my heart I wait for the Lord to help me.
    I put my hope in his word.
I wait for the Lord to help me.
    I want his help more than night watchmen want the morning to come.
I’ll say it again.
    I want his help more than night watchmen want the morning to come.
Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
    because the Lord’s love never fails.
    He sets his people completely free.
He himself will set Israel
    free from all their sins.