Psalms 130 · Verse 3

Psalms 130:3

If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
Psalms 130:3, King James Version

Psalms 130:3 in other translations

BSBIf You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand?
WEBIf you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?
ASVIf thou, Jehovah, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
YLTIf iniquities Thou dost observe, O Lord, who doth stand?
DARBYIf thou, Jah, shouldest mark iniquities, Lord, who shall stand?
BBEO Jah, if you took note of every sin, who would go free?
WebsterIf thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

What does Psalms 130:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. shouldest mark--or, "take strict account" (Job 10:14; 14:16), implying a confession of the existence of sin. who shall stand--(Psa 1:6). Standing is opposed to the guilty sinking down in fear and self-condemnation (Mal 3:2; Re 6:15, 16). The question implies a negative, which is thus more strongly stated.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 If thou - shouldest mark iniquities - If thou shouldst set down every deviation in thought, word, and deed from thy holy law; and if thou shouldst call us into judgment for all our infidelities, both of heart and life; O Lord, who could stand? Who could stand such a trial, and who could stand acquitted in the judgment? This is a most solemn saying; and if we had not the doctrine that is in the next verse, who could be saved?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 130:1-4

The only way of relief for a sin-entangled soul, is by applying to God alone. Many things present themselves as diversions, many things offer themselves as remedies, but the soul finds that the Lord alone can heal. And until men are sensible of the guilt of sin, and quit all to come at once to God, it is in vain for them to expect any relief. The Holy Ghost gives to such poor souls a fresh sense of their deep…

Read the full comment on Psalms 130:1-4 →

Psalms 130:3 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אִם\־'im-ifH518
עֲוֹנ֥וֹתa.vo.NotiniquitiesH5771
תִּשְׁמָר\־tish.mor-you will keepH8104
יָ֑הּYahO YahwehH3050
אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י'a.do.NaiO LordH136
מִ֣יmiwho?H4310
יַעֲמֹֽד\׃ya.'a.Modwill he standH5975

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 130:3

  • Psalms 143:2

    And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

  • Psalms 76:7

    Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?

  • Romans 3:20-24

    Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; …

  • John 8:7-9

    So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

  • Nahum 1:6

    Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

  • Revelation 6:17

    For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

  • Job 10:14

    If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.

  • Malachi 3:2

    But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

  • Job 15:14

    What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

  • Job 9:20

    If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

  • Isaiah 53:6

    All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

  • Job 9:2-3

    I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
shouldest mark.
143:2; Job 9:2,3,20; 10:14; 15:14; Isa 53:6; Joh 8:7-9; Ro 3:20-24

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 130:2

    Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

  • Psalms 130:3

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

  • Psalms 130:4

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

Read all of Psalms 130

Psalms 130:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		JAH, si mirares á los pecados, ¿quién, oh Señor, podrá mantenerse?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ô Jah! si tu prends garde aux iniquités, Seigneur, qui subsistera?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn du, Jehova, merkst auf die Ungerechtigkeiten: Herr, wer wird bestehen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Speret Israël in Domino, ex hoc nunc et usque in sæculum.