Psalm 61:1
New International Version
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David. Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.

New Living Translation
O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer!

English Standard Version
Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer;

Berean Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. Of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer.

King James Bible
To the chief Musician upon Neginah, A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

New King James Version
To the Chief Musician. On a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.

New American Standard Bible
For the music director; on a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, God; Give Your attention to my prayer.

NASB 1995
For the choir director; on a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer.

NASB 1977
Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the choir director. On a stringed instrument. Of David. Hear my cry of lamentation, O God; Give heed to my prayer.

Amplified Bible
To the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; Listen to my prayer.

Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director: on stringed instruments. Of David. God, hear my cry; pay attention to my prayer.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director: on stringed instruments. Davidic. God, hear my cry; pay attention to my prayer.

American Standard Version
For the Chief Musician; on a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; Attend unto my prayer.

Contemporary English Version
Please listen, God, and answer my prayer!

English Revised Version
For the Chief Musician; on a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[For the choir director; on a stringed instrument; by David.] Listen to my cry for help, O God. Pay attention to my prayer.

Good News Translation
Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer!

International Standard Version
God, hear my cry; pay attention to my prayer.

Majority Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. Of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer.

NET Bible
For the music director; to be played on a stringed instrument; written by David. O God, hear my cry for help! Pay attention to my prayer!

New Heart English Bible
[For the Chief Musician. For a stringed instrument. By David.] Hear my cry, God. Listen to my prayer.

Webster's Bible Translation
To the chief Musician upon Neginah, A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer.

World English Bible
For the Chief Musician. For a stringed instrument. By David. Hear my cry, God. Listen to my prayer.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
TO THE OVERSEER. ON STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. BY DAVID. Hear, O God, my loud cry, attend to my prayer.

Young's Literal Translation
To the Overseer, on stringed instruments. -- By David. Hear, O God, my loud cry, attend to my prayer.

Smith's Literal Translation
To the overseer upon the stringed instrument; to David. Hear, O God, my wailing; attend to my prayer.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Unto the end, in hymns, for David. Hear, O God, my supplication: be attentive to my prayer,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Unto the end. With hymns, of David. O God, pay attention to my supplication. Be attentive to my prayer.

New American Bible
For the leader; with stringed instruments. Of David. [2] Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer!

New Revised Standard Version
Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
HEAR my cry, O God; attend to my prayer.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Oh God, hear my prayer and give ear to my prayer!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For the Leader; with string-music. [A Psalm] of David. Hear my cry, O God; Attend unto my prayer.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For the end, among the Hymns of David. O God, hearken to my petition; attend to my prayer.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
You Have Heard My Vows
1For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. Of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. 2From the ends of the earth I call out to You whenever my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.…

Cross References
Psalm 5:1-2
For the choirmaster, to be accompanied by flutes. A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning. / Attend to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I pray.

Psalm 55:1-2
For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and do not ignore my plea. / Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught

Psalm 17:6
I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me; hear my words.

Psalm 86:6-7
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and attend to my plea for mercy. / In the day of my distress I call on You, because You answer me.

Psalm 130:1-2
A song of ascents. Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD! / O Lord, hear my voice; let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy.

Psalm 143:1
A Psalm of David. O LORD, hear my prayer. In Your faithfulness, give ear to my plea; in Your righteousness, answer me.

Psalm 102:1-2
A prayer of one who is afflicted, when he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come before You. / Do not hide Your face from me in my day of distress. Incline Your ear to me; answer me quickly when I call.

Psalm 28:2
Hear my cry for mercy when I call to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

Psalm 31:2
Incline Your ear to me; come quickly to my rescue. Be my rock of refuge, the stronghold of my deliverance.

Psalm 39:12
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. For I am a foreigner dwelling with You, a stranger like all my fathers.

Psalm 77:1
For the choirmaster. According to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph. I cried out to God; I cried aloud to God to hear me.

1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

Hebrews 5:7
During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.

Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.


Treasury of Scripture

Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer.

(Title.

Psalm 4:1
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

Psalm 6:1
To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

Psalm 54:1
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.

Hear

Psalm 5:1-3
To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation…

Psalm 17:1
A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

Psalm 28:2
Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.

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Attend Chief Choirmaster Cry David Director Ears Hear Heed Instrument Instruments Leader Music Musician Music-Maker Open Overseer Prayer Psalm Stringed String-Music
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Attend Chief Choirmaster Cry David Director Ears Hear Heed Instrument Instruments Leader Music Musician Music-Maker Open Overseer Prayer Psalm Stringed String-Music
Psalm 61
1. David flees to God upon his former experience
4. He vows perpetual service unto him, because of his promises














Hear my cry, O God
The psalmist begins with a heartfelt plea, "Hear my cry, O God." The Hebrew word for "cry" here is "rinnah," which can denote a shout of joy or a cry for help. In this context, it is a desperate plea for divine attention. The use of "O God" signifies a personal relationship and trust in the Almighty. Historically, this reflects the ancient Israelite practice of calling upon God in times of distress, acknowledging His sovereignty and willingness to listen. The psalmist's cry is not just a request but an expression of faith that God is attentive to the prayers of His people.

attend to my prayer
The phrase "attend to my prayer" is a continuation of the plea for divine intervention. The Hebrew word "qashab" means to listen or give heed. It implies an expectation that God will not only hear but also respond to the prayer. This reflects a deep-seated belief in the responsiveness of God, a theme prevalent throughout the Psalms. The psalmist is confident that God is not distant or indifferent but is actively engaged in the lives of those who seek Him. This assurance is rooted in the covenant relationship between God and His people, where prayer is a vital means of communication and connection.

Verse 1. - Hear my cry, O God (see the comment on Psalm 17:1). The word rinnah expresses a shrill, piercing cry, but one which may be of joy or of lamentation. Attend unto my prayer; i.e. "hear and answer it."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For the choirmaster.
לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ ׀ (lam·naṣ·ṣê·aḥ)
Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5329: To glitter from afar, to be eminent, to be permanent

With
עַֽל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

stringed instruments.
נְגִינַ֬ת (nə·ḡî·naṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5058: Instrumental music, a stringed instrument, a poem set to music, an epigram

Of David.
לְדָוִֽד׃ (lə·ḏā·wiḏ)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

Hear
שִׁמְעָ֣ה (šim·‘āh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

my cry,
רִנָּתִ֑י (rin·nā·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7440: A creaking, shout

O God,
אֱ֭לֹהִים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

attend
הַ֝קְשִׁ֗יבָה (haq·šî·ḇāh)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7181: To prick up the ears, hearken

to my prayer.
תְּפִלָּתִֽי׃ (tə·p̄il·lā·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 8605: Intercession, supplication, a hymn


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OT Poetry: Psalm 61:1 For the Chief Musician (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 60:12
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