Psalm 130 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 130:4, 130:5, 130:6
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
Psalm 130
From the depths toward redemption
Verse 130:1 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[130:1] A song of the ascents.
From the depths I called You, YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[129:1] A song of the ascents.
From the depths I have cried to You, Lord.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The same plea rises from the depths. Greek ἐκέκραξα is aorist; English have cried conveys the cry’s relevance to the present petition without relabeling the Greek tense.
Verse 130:2 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[130:2] Lord, hear my voice;
let Your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for favor.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[129:2] Lord, hear my voice;
let Your ears be attentive
to the voice of my petition.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Hebrew plural pleas and Greek singular petition express the same request for attentive hearing.
Verse 130:3 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[130:3] If You keep account of iniquities, Yah,
Lord, who can stand?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[129:3] If You closely watch lawless deeds, Lord,
Lord, who will withstand?
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Hebrew Yah followed by Adonai becomes Lord, Lord in Greek. Keeping account is the contextual force of keeping iniquities, not an added claim about a literal ledger.
Verse 130:4 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[130:4] For with You is forgiveness,
so that You may be feared.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[129:4] For with You is atonement.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew explicitly relates forgiveness to reverent fear; Greek ends this verse with atonement and begins the next with because of Your law. The different rationale is substantive; Greek is not supplied with the Hebrew fear clause. Reception — Rashi relates forgiveness and fear to reliance on God rather than on another agent’s power to forgive. Augustine, section three, relates propitiation to Christ’s sacrificial redemption and develops the law of mercy. These distinct readings are kept apart from the base wording. [RASHI-PS130-ROOT; AUG-PS130-ROOT]
Verse 130:5 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[130:5] I wait for YHWH; my soul waits,
and for His word I hope.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[129:5] Because of Your law I waited for You, Lord;
my soul waited for Your word.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek because of Your law corresponds to a different reading at the Hebrew fear/purpose transition and appears at its own printed verse five. Hebrew third-person His word contrasts with Greek direct Your word; Greek waiting is past.
Verse 130:6 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[130:6] My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
watchmen for the morning.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[129:6] My soul hoped in the Lord
from the morning watch until night;
from the morning watch let Israel hope in the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew compares waiting with watchmen’s repeated longing for morning; Greek gives a morning-to-night span and places Israel’s exhortation here. The exhortation corresponding to Hebrew verse seven appears once at this Greek label. Reception — Rashi hears repeated expectation of redemption in the morning-watch language. Augustine, sections four–six, interprets the morning watch through Christ’s resurrection and hope extending until death. The Hebrew comparison and Greek time span remain distinct. [RASHI-PS130-ROOT; AUG-PS130-ROOT]
Verse 130:7 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[130:7] Let Israel hope in YHWH,
for with YHWH is steadfast love,
and with Him is abundant redemption.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[129:7] For with the Lord is mercy,
and with Him is abundant redemption,
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek has already given the call to Israel at the end of its verse six; it is not duplicated. Mercy/steadfast love and abundant redemption otherwise correspond.
Verse 130:8 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[130:8] And He will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[129:8] And He will redeem Israel
from all its lawless deeds.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The same promise names Israel’s redemption from all wrongdoing.