Psalms 5 · Verse 2

Psalms 5:2

Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.
Psalms 5:2, King James Version

Psalms 5:2 in other translations

BSBAttend to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I pray.
WEBListen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for I pray to you.
ASVHearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God; For unto thee do I pray.
YLTBe attentive to the voice of my cry, My king and my God, For unto Thee I pray habitually.
DARBYHearken unto the voice of my crying, my king and my God; for to thee will I pray.
BBELet the voice of my cry come to you, my King and my God; for to you will I make my prayer.
WebsterHearken to the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for to thee will I pray.

What does Psalms 5:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. Hearken--incline the ear (Psa 10:17; compare Psa 61:2)--give close attention. my cry--that is, for help (Psa 61:2; Jr 8:19). my King--thus by covenant relation interested in my cause.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry - We may easily find the process through which David's mind was now passing: 1. We have seen from the preceding Psalm that he lay down in a very happy frame of mind, and that he had enjoyed profound repose. 2. As soon as he awakes in the morning, his heart, having a right direction, resumes its work. 3. He meditates on God's goodness; and on his own happy state, though pursued by enemies, and only safe as long as God preserved him by an almighty hand and especial providence. 4. This shows him the need he has of the continual protection of the Most High; and therefore he begins to form his meditation and the desires of his heart into words, to which he entreats the Lord to give ear. 5. As he was accustomed to have answers to his prayers, he feels the necessity of being importunate! and therefore lifts up his voice. 6. Seeing the workers of iniquity, liars, and blood-thirsty men strong to accomplish their own purposes in the destruction of the godly, he becomes greatly in earnest, and cries unto the Lord: "Hearken unto the voice of my cry." 7. He knows that, in order to have a right answer, he must have a proper disposition of mind. He feels his subjection to the supreme authority of the Most High, and is ready to do his will and obey his laws; therefore he prays to God as his lying: "Hearken, my King and my God." I have not only taken thee for my God, to save, defend, and make me happy; but I have taken thee for my King, to govern, direct, and rule over me. 8. Knowing the necessity and success of prayer, he purposes to continue in the spirit and practice of it: "Unto thee will I pray." R. S. Jarchi gives this a pretty and pious turn: "When I have power to pray, and to ask for the things I need, then, O Lord, give ear to my words; but when I have no power to plead with thee, and fear seizes on my heart, then, O Lord, consider my meditation!"

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 5:1-6

God is a prayer-hearing God. Such he has always been, and he is still as ready to hear prayer as ever. The most encouraging principle of prayer, and the most powerful plea in prayer, is, to look upon him as our King and our God. David also prays to a sin-hating God. sin is folly, and sinners are the greatest of all fools; fools of their own making. Wicked people hate God; justly are they hated of him, and this will…

Read the full comment on Psalms 5:1-6 →

Psalms 5:2 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.

הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה\׀hak.Shi.vahpay attention !H7181
לְק֬וֹלle.Kolto [the] sound ofH6963
שַׁוְעִ֗יshav.'Icry for help myH7773
מַלְכִּ֥יmal.KiO king myH4428
וֵאלֹהָ֑יve.lo.Haiand God myH430
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
אֵ֝לֶ֗יךָ'e.Lei.khato youH413
אֶתְפַּלָּֽל\׃'et.pa.LalI prayH6419

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

Cross references for Psalms 5:2

  • Psalms 65:2

    O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

  • Psalms 3:4

    I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

  • Isaiah 33:22

    For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.

  • Psalms 145:1

    David’s Psalm of praise. I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

  • Psalms 84:3

    Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.

  • Psalms 99:1-4

    The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. The Lord is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people. Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy. The king’s strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.

  • Psalms 74:12

    For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

  • Psalms 24:7-8

    Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

  • Psalms 10:16

    The Lord is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.

  • Psalms 47:6-7

    Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.

  • Psalms 44:4

    Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
unto the.
3:4
my King.
10:16; 24:7,8; 44:4; 47:6,7; 74:12; 99:1-4; 145:1; Isa 33:22
unto thee.
65:2

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

Context

  • Psalms 5:1

    To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.

  • Psalms 5:2

    Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

  • Psalms 5:3

    My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Read all of Psalms 5

Psalms 5:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Está atento á la voz de mi clamor, Rey mío y Dios mío, porque á ti oraré.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Prête l’oreille à mes paroles, ô Éternel! Considère ma méditation.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Horche auf die Stimme meines Schreiens, mein König und mein Gott! denn zu dir bete ich.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Verba mea auribus percipe, Domine; intellige clamorem meum.