Psalms 79:8

Do not hold past sins against us; let Your compassion come quickly, for we are brought low.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist speaks to God on behalf of Israel immediately after foreign nations have devoured Jacob and ruined the land (Psalms 79:7). The prayer is positioned between a declaration of national ruin and a direct request for deliverance and atonement (Psalms 79:9).

The words — The Hebrew תִזְכּוֹר עֲוֹנוֹת רִאשֹׁנִים (tizkor avonot rishonim) literally means "you remember former iniquities." The term מַהֵר (maher) translates to "quickly," directly modifying the plea for God's compassion to arrive without delay.

The thread — The text explicitly commands God not to hold past sins against the people, a pattern repeated in Isaiah 64:9. It parallels Psalms 142:6 in its declaration of being brought low, and aligns with Psalms 116:6 in its reliance on divine preservation amid helplessness.

Why it lands — The verse states that the people are brought low and directly asks for compassion to arrive quickly rather than demanding justice. It requires the reader to acknowledge their own low condition and to seek relief solely through unmerited divine mercy.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

אַֽל־'al-may not תִּזְכָּר־tiz.kor-you rememberלָנוּ֮la./Nuto/ usעֲוֹנֹ֪ת'a.vo.Notiniquities רִאשֹׁ֫נִ֥יםri.Sho.Nimformer מַ֭הֵרMa.her[surely] quickly יְקַדְּמ֣וּנוּye.ka.de.Mu./numay they come to meet/ us רַחֲמֶ֑יךָra.cha.Mei./khacompassion<s>/ your כִּ֖יkifor דַלּ֣וֹנוּda.Lo.nuwe have become low מְאֹֽד׃me.'Odexceedingly

King James Version

O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.

Cross-references

Isaiah 64:9 Do not be angry, O LORD, beyond measure; do not remember our iniquity forever. Oh, look upon us, we pray; we are all Your people!
Psalms 116:6 The LORD preserves the simplehearted; I was helpless, and He saved me.
Psalms 142:6 Listen to my cry, for I am brought quite low. Rescue me from my pursuers, for they are too strong for me.
Revelation 18:5 For her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
Psalms 21:3 For You welcomed him with rich blessings; You placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
Hosea 9:9 They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah; He will remember their guilt; He will punish their sins.
Matthew 23:32 Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your fathers.
Genesis 15:16 In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
Exodus 32:34 Now go, lead the people to the place I described. Behold, My angel shall go before you. But on the day I settle accounts, I will punish them for their sin.”
Deuteronomy 28:43 The foreigner living among you will rise higher and higher above you, while you sink down lower and lower.