Psalm 130
King James Version
A Song of degrees known as "De Profundis," a cry for mercy out of the depths.
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About this text
Psalm 130 is known by its Latin title, De Profundis ("out of the depths"), from the opening words of the Latin Vulgate translation, and it's one of the seven traditional "penitential psalms" used in Christian liturgy for confession and repentance. Like Psalm 121 and 128, it's headed "A Song of degrees" in the King James Version.
The psalm moves in stages — from a cry (verses 1-2), to a statement about forgiveness (verses 3-4), to waiting (verses 5-6), to a final call addressed to all of Israel (verses 7-8) — so copying it in order gives a student a small lesson in how a short poem can change its address partway through without losing its subject.
What to watch for
- 3 colons: a colon points ahead to what explains or completes the first half of the sentence.
- 1 exclamation or question mark: ask the child how the sentence should sound when read aloud, and why the writer chose that mark.
- Capital letters in the middle of a sentence: LORD, Lord, Israel. Ask why each one is capitalized before typing it.
- Old-fashioned words: unto, thee, thine, thou, doth, waiteth. These are easy to "correct" by accident into modern spelling, so copy them exactly as written.
- Longest word: "supplications" (13 letters). Try spelling it aloud once before reaching it.
- 8 lines averaging about 15 words each. A comfortable line length for a single sitting.
Full text (reference)
1Out 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.