King James Version

Psalms 61:1

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

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Hebrew

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In the Hebrew text this line is Psalms 61:2. The heading is Hebrew Psalms 61:1.

Heading in the Hebrew text

לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַlamnatsechato excelנָצַחpreposition, with the article, verb, piel, participle, absolute — “to excel”, a verb used as a describing wordH5329properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanentexcel, chief musician (singer), oversee(-r), set forward.עַֽלalaboveעַלpreposition — “above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…נְגִינַ֬תneginatstringed instrumentנְגִינָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, construct — “stringed instrument”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH5058properly, instrumental music; by implication, a stringed instrument; by extension, a poem set to music; specifically, an epigramstringed instrument, musick, Neginoth (plural), song.לְדָוִֽדledavidto Davidדָּוִדpreposition, noun, proper name — “to David”H1732David, the youngest son of JesseDavid.

שִׁמְעָ֣הshimahhearשָׁמַעverb, qal, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular, paragogic he — “hear”, a commandH8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)[idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) n…אֱ֭לֹהִיםelohimGodאֱלֹהִיםnoun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “God”, the ordinary formH430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlativeangels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.רִנָּתִ֑יrinatijoyרִנָּהnoun, common, feminine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “joy”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7440properly, a creaking (or shrill sound), i.e. shout (of joy or grief)cry, gladness, joy, proclamation, rejoicing, shouting, sing(-ing), triumph.הַ֝קְשִׁ֗יבָהhaqshivahattendקָשַׁבverb, hiphil, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular, paragogic he — “attend”, a commandH7181to prick up the ears, i.e. hearkenattend, (cause to) hear(-ken), give heed, incline, mark (well), regard.תְּפִלָּתִֽיtefilatiprayerתְּפִלָּהnoun, common, feminine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “prayer”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH8605intercession, supplication; by implication, a hymnprayer.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(61-1) For the Leader; with string-music. A Psalm of David. (61-2) Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Hear my cry, O God; Attend unto my prayer.

Young’s Literal Translation

To the Overseer, on stringed instruments. — By David. Hear, O God, my loud cry, attend to my prayer.

World English Bible

Hear my cry, God. Listen to my prayer.

Darby Translation

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

Douay-Rheims

Unto the end, for Idithun, a psalm of David.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

(61-1) For the Leader; with string-music. A Psalm of David. (61-2) Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

O God, hearken to my petition; attend to my prayer.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Εἰσάκουσον ὁ Θεὸς τῆς δεήσεώς μου, πρόσχες τῇ προσευχῇ μου.