Psalms 130:5–6
The psalmist waits for God more than watchmen wait for morning
Study it word by word5I have waited for YHWH; my soul has waited, and for his word I have awaited.
6My soul waits for Adonai more than watchmen for the morning, watchmen for the morning.
In its context
3If you keep iniquities, Yah, Adonai, who could stand?
4But with you is forgiveness, so that you may be feared.
…
7Let Israel await YHWH, for with YHWH is loyal love, and abundant with him is redemption.
8And he will ransom Israel from all its iniquities.
Its words in the original
- קִוִּיתִיkiviti· gather; wait for
Gather together, collect in one place (said of the waters). In other passages the same verb means "wait for" with hope.
- יְהוָהyehva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- נַפְשִׁnafshi· soul, living being, life
A breathing being, a living being. It is translated "living being" (people and animals), "life" (when living or dying is at stake), "person" (in counts and laws), "soul" (the person at the innermost: desires, joy, anguish) or "myself". In the Old Testament it names the whole living being, not only a part of it.
- דְבָרdevar· word, matter, thing
Word; what is said. Also "matter" or "thing": what is spoken about, an affair, an event.
- הוֹחָלְתִּיhochalti· wait, hope
Wait patiently; hope.
- אדֹנָdona· Adonai, Lord
"Adonai": "my Lord", said only to God. It is a title of respect that acknowledges his authority. It is not another god besides YHWH: often it goes with his name, "Adonai YHWH", Lord YHWH.
- שֹּׁמְרִיםshomrim· keep, guard
Keep: watch over, guard, protect; also keep a command or a covenant, observe.
- בֹּקֶרboker· morning
Morning, dawn.