John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes on the Bible (1765)

Psalms 130

Also read this chapter inComplete Commentary on the Bible Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

Verse 3

³If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

Mark - Observe them accurately and punish them as they deserve. Stand - At thy tribunal.

Verse 4

⁴But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

Forgiveness - Thou art able and ready to forgive repenting sinners. Feared - Not with a slavish, but with a childlike fear. This mercy of thine is the foundation of all religion, without which men would desperately proceed in their impious courses.

Verse 5

⁵I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

I wait - That he would pardon my sins.

Verse 6

⁶My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

They - Whether soldiers that keep the night-watches in an army, or the priests or Levites who did so in the temple.

Verse 7

⁷Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

Israel - Every true Israelite. Plenteous - Abundantly sufficient for all persons who accept it upon God’s terms.