Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry. New Living Translation Now hear my prayer; listen to my cry. English Standard Version Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry! Berean Standard Bible May my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry. King James Bible Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; New King James Version Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my cry. New American Standard Bible Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my cry! NASB 1995 Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my cry! NASB 1977 Let my prayer come before Thee; Incline Thine ear to my cry! Legacy Standard Bible Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my cry of lamentation! Amplified Bible Let my prayer come before You and enter into Your presence; Incline Your ear to my cry! Christian Standard Bible May my prayer reach your presence; listen to my cry. Holman Christian Standard Bible May my prayer reach Your presence; listen to my cry. American Standard Version Let my prayer enter into thy presence; Incline thine ear unto my cry. Contemporary English Version please listen carefully to each of my concerns. English Revised Version Let my prayer enter into thy presence; incline thine ear unto my cry: GOD'S WORD® Translation Let my prayer come into your presence. Turn your ear to hear my cries. Good News Translation Hear my prayer; listen to my cry for help! International Standard Version Let my prayer come before you; listen to my cry. NET Bible Listen to my prayer! Pay attention to my cry for help! New Heart English Bible Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry. Webster's Bible Translation Let my prayer come before thee: incline thy ear to my cry; Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleMay my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry. World English Bible Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionMy prayer comes in before You, "" Incline Your ear to my loud cry, Young's Literal Translation My prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry, Smith's Literal Translation My prayer shall come before thee: incline thine ear to my wailing; Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleLet my prayer come in before thee: incline thy ear to my petition. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry. New Revised Standard Version let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleLet my prayer come before thee; incline thine ear unto my supplication; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated My prayer will enter before you and bend your ear to my prayer! OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Let my prayer come before Thee, Incline Thine ear unto my cry. Brenton Septuagint Translation Let my prayer come in before thee; incline thine ear to my supplication, O Lord. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Day and Night I Cry Out Before You1A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, the God of my salvation, day and night I cry out before You. 2May my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry. 3For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol.… Cross References 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. Lamentations 3:8 Even when I cry out and plead for help, He shuts out my prayer. 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 5:1-3 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. / In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation. Psalm 86:3 Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I call to You all day long. 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 17:1 A prayer of David. Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer—it comes from lips free of deceit. Psalm 31:2 Incline Your ear to me; come quickly to my rescue. Be my rock of refuge, the stronghold of my deliverance. 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 61:1 For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. Of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. Psalm 102:1 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. 1 Kings 8:28 Yet regard the prayer and plea of Your servant, O LORD my God, so that You may hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is praying before You today. Isaiah 38:14 I chirp like a swallow or crane; I moan like a dove. My eyes grow weak as I look upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; be my security.” Jonah 2:2 saying: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From the belly of Sheol I called for help, and You heard my voice. Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart: Treasury of Scripture Let my prayer come before you: incline your ear to my cry; Psalm 79:11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die; Psalm 141:1,2 A Psalm of David. LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee… 1 Kings 8:31 If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house: Jump to Previous Cry Ear Enter Incline Loud Prayer Presence TurnJump to Next Cry Ear Enter Incline Loud Prayer Presence TurnPsalm 88 1. A prayer containing a grievous complaint.May my prayer come before You; This phrase reflects a deep yearning for God's attention and presence. In the context of ancient Israel, prayer was a vital part of worship and communication with God, often conducted in the temple or during personal devotion. The psalmist's plea for his prayer to "come before" God suggests a desire for divine favor and acceptance, reminiscent of the incense offerings in the temple that symbolized prayers rising to God (Exodus 30:8, Psalm 141:2). This imagery underscores the importance of sincerity and humility in approaching God, as seen in the prayers of figures like Daniel (Daniel 9:17-19) and Hannah (1 Samuel 1:10-15). incline Your ear to my cry. Persons / Places / Events 1. The Sons of KorahThis psalm is attributed to the Sons of Korah, a group of Levitical singers in the temple. They are known for their deep and often somber psalms. 2. Heman the Ezrahite Traditionally considered the author of Psalm 88, Heman was a wise man and a musician in the time of King David, known for his wisdom and musical contributions to temple worship. 3. The Temple The setting for many of the psalms, including those by the Sons of Korah, is the temple in Jerusalem, the central place of worship for the Israelites. 4. Prayer The act of communicating with God, which is central to this verse, emphasizing the psalmist's earnest plea for God's attention. 5. Cry Represents the deep emotional distress and earnestness in the psalmist's prayer, seeking God's intervention and presence. Teaching Points The Importance of Persistent PrayerThe psalmist's plea for his prayer to come before God highlights the importance of persistence in prayer, even when circumstances seem dire. God's Attentive Ear The request for God to "incline Your ear" reminds us that God is attentive and compassionate, ready to listen to the cries of His people. Expressing Deep Emotions to God The psalmist's cry shows that it is acceptable to bring our deepest emotions and struggles before God, trusting in His understanding and care. Faith in God's Presence Amidst Silence Even when God seems silent, the act of praying and crying out to Him is an expression of faith in His presence and eventual response. Community in Worship and Lament The involvement of the Sons of Korah suggests the value of community in both worship and lament, encouraging believers to support one another in prayer. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Psalm 88:2?2. How can Psalm 88:2 guide our daily prayer life and persistence in prayer? 3. What does "let my prayer come before You" teach about God's accessibility? 4. How does Psalm 88:2 relate to Jesus' teachings on prayer in Matthew 7:7? 5. In what ways can we ensure our prayers align with God's will? 6. How can Psalm 88:2 encourage us during times of spiritual darkness or despair? 7. How does Psalm 88:2 reflect the theme of unanswered prayer in the Bible? 8. What historical context might have influenced the writing of Psalm 88:2? 9. How does Psalm 88:2 challenge the belief in a responsive God? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 88? 11. What does 'incline your ear' mean? 12. What does "incline your ear" mean? 13. Why does Psalm 88 present unrelenting despair without any expression of hope, seeming to contradict other passages that emphasize God's deliverance (Psalm 88:1-3)? 14. (Psalm 65:2) If God truly hears all prayers, why do so many sincere requests remain unanswered? What Does Psalm 88:2 Mean May my prayer come before You- The psalmist believes his words truly reach the living God, not symbolically but in fact (Psalm 65:2). - “Come before” pictures prayer entering God’s throne room, just as incense rises in Psalm 141:2 and Revelation 8:3-4. - The confidence echoes Hebrews 4:16, where believers are urged to “approach the throne of grace with confidence,” and Ephesians 2:18, which states that “through Him we both have access to the Father.” - This line teaches: • God is personally accessible. • Prayer is welcomed because of His covenant love (Psalm 89:3-4). • We are invited to speak honestly, even from the depths of distress (Psalm 88:3-7). incline Your ear to my cry - “Incline” pictures the Almighty bending down to listen—an act of tender condescension seen in Psalm 17:6 and Psalm 40:1. - The word “cry” shows raw urgency; the psalmist is not reciting liturgy but pleading for rescue (Psalm 18:6). - Other passages reinforce God’s attentive ear: Isaiah 59:1 (“His ear is not too dull to hear”), 1 Peter 3:12 (“the ears of the Lord are toward the righteous”), and 1 Peter 5:7 (“He cares for you”). - This line teaches: • God responds to heartfelt desperation, not merely polished phrases. • Even when circumstances remain dark—as they do throughout Psalm 88—He is still the nearest helper (Psalm 34:18). • Persistent, faith-filled crying out is a mark of trust, not doubt (Luke 18:7-8). summary Psalm 88:2 models a believer who knows his petitions truly reach God and that God willingly bends down to hear. One half stresses confident access; the other, God’s compassionate attention. Together they invite us to pray frankly and expectantly, convinced that the Lord both hears and cares. Verse 2. - Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry (comp. Psalm 86:1, 6).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew May my prayerתְּפִלָּתִ֑י (tə·p̄il·lā·ṯî) Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 8605: Intercession, supplication, a hymn come תָּב֣וֹא (tā·ḇō·w) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go before You; לְ֭פָנֶיךָ (lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā) Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 6440: The face incline הַטֵּֽה־ (haṭ·ṭêh-) Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 5186: To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend Your ear אָ֝זְנְךָ֗ (’ā·zə·nə·ḵā) Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 241: Broadness, the ear to my cry. לְרִנָּתִֽי׃ (lə·rin·nā·ṯî) Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 7440: A creaking, shout Links Psalm 88:2 NIVPsalm 88:2 NLT Psalm 88:2 ESV Psalm 88:2 NASB Psalm 88:2 KJV Psalm 88:2 BibleApps.com Psalm 88:2 Biblia Paralela Psalm 88:2 Chinese Bible Psalm 88:2 French Bible Psalm 88:2 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Psalm 88:2 Let my prayer enter into your presence (Psalm Ps Psa.) |