Psalm 28:2
New International Version
Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.

New Living Translation
Listen to my prayer for mercy as I cry out to you for help, as I lift my hands toward your holy sanctuary.

English Standard Version
Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.

Berean Standard Bible
Hear my cry for mercy when I call to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

King James Bible
Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.

New King James Version
Hear the voice of my supplications When I cry to You, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

New American Standard Bible
Hear the sound of my pleadings when I cry to You for help, When I raise my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

NASB 1995
Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

NASB 1977
Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to Thee for help, When I lift up my hands toward Thy holy sanctuary.

Legacy Standard Bible
Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

Amplified Bible
Hear the voice of my supplication (specific requests, humble entreaties) as I cry to You for help, As I lift up my hands and heart toward Your innermost sanctuary (Holy of Holies).

Christian Standard Bible
Listen to the sound of my pleading when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your holy sanctuary.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Listen to the sound of my pleading when I cry to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

American Standard Version
Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, When I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.

Contemporary English Version
Please listen to my prayer and my cry for help, as I lift my hands toward your holy temple.

English Revised Version
Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Hear my prayer for mercy when I call to you for help, when I lift my hands toward your most holy place.

Good News Translation
Hear me when I cry to you for help, when I lift my hands toward your holy Temple.

International Standard Version
Hear the sound of my supplications when I cry to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.

Majority Standard Bible
Hear my cry for mercy when I call to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

NET Bible
Hear my plea for mercy when I cry out to you for help, when I lift my hands toward your holy temple!

New Heart English Bible
Hear the voice of my petitions, when I cry to you, when I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.

Webster's Bible Translation
Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry to thee, when I lift my hands towards thy holy oracle.

World English Bible
Hear the voice of my petitions, when I cry to you, when I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Hear the voice of my supplications, "" In my crying to You, "" In my lifting up my hands toward your holy oracle.

Young's Literal Translation
Hear the voice of my supplications, In my crying unto Thee, In my lifting up my hands toward thy holy oracle.

Smith's Literal Translation
Hear the voice of my supplications in my crying to thee, in my lifting up my hands to the oracle of thy holy place.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication, when I pray to thee; when I lift up my hands to thy holy temple.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication, when I pray to you, when I lift up my hands toward your holy temple.

New American Bible
Hear the sound of my pleading when I cry to you for help when I lift up my hands toward your holy place.

New Revised Standard Version
Hear the voice of my supplication, as I cry to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy temple.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Hear the voice of my prayer when I cry to you, and when I lift my hands to your holy temple.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto Thee, When I lift up my hands toward Thy holy Sanctuary.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Hearken to the voice of my supplication, when I pray to thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy temple.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD is My Strength
1Of David. To You, O LORD, I call; be not deaf to me, O my Rock. For if You remain silent, I will be like those descending to the Pit. 2Hear my cry for mercy when I call to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary. 3Do not drag me away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors while malice is in their hearts.…

Cross References
1 Kings 8:28-30
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. / May Your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place. / Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive.

2 Chronicles 6:19-21
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. / May Your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place where You said You would put Your Name, so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place. / Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive.

Psalm 5:2
Attend to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I pray.

Psalm 130:2
O Lord, hear my voice; let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy.

Psalm 141:2
May my prayer be set before You like incense; my uplifted hands, like the evening offering.

1 Samuel 1:10-12
In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears. / And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.” / As Hannah kept on praying before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth.

2 Chronicles 20:9
‘If disaster comes upon us—whether sword or judgment, plague or famine—we will stand before this temple and before You, for Your Name is in this temple. We will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear us and save us.’

Nehemiah 1:6
let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned.

Daniel 9:17-19
So now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of Your servant. For Your sake, O Lord, cause Your face to shine upon Your desolate sanctuary. / Incline Your ear, O my God, and hear; open Your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You because of our righteous acts, but because of Your great compassion. / O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For Your sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people bear Your name.”

Jonah 2:7
As my life was fading away, I remembered the LORD. My prayer went up to You, to Your holy temple.

Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Luke 11:9-10
So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

John 14:13-14
And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. / If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it.

Acts 10:31
and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God.

Romans 8:26-27
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. / And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.


Treasury of Scripture

Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry to you, when I lift up my hands toward your holy oracle.

when

Psalm 63:4
Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

Psalm 125:5
As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.

Psalm 134:2
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.

thy holy oracle.

Psalm 5:7
But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

Psalm 138:2
I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

1 Kings 6:19,22,23
And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD…

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Cry Crying Ear Hands Hear Help Holiness Holy Lift Mercy Oracle Petitions Prayer Sanctuary Supplication Supplications Towards Voice
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Cry Crying Ear Hands Hear Help Holiness Holy Lift Mercy Oracle Petitions Prayer Sanctuary Supplication Supplications Towards Voice
Psalm 28
1. David prays earnestly against his enemies
6. and for the people














Hear my cry for mercy
This phrase reflects a plea for divine compassion and forgiveness. In the biblical context, mercy is a central theme, often associated with God's covenant love (hesed) for His people. The psalmist's cry for mercy echoes the prayers of many biblical figures, such as David, who frequently sought God's mercy in times of distress (e.g., Psalm 51). The concept of mercy is also foundational in the New Testament, where Jesus embodies God's mercy through His teachings and sacrificial death (e.g., Matthew 5:7).

when I call to You for help
The act of calling upon God signifies a deep reliance on Him as the ultimate source of aid and deliverance. This reflects the historical context of Israel, where God was seen as the protector and deliverer of His people, especially during times of national crisis or personal turmoil. The psalmist's call for help is reminiscent of the Israelites' cries during their bondage in Egypt, which God heard and responded to by sending Moses as their deliverer (Exodus 3:7-10).

when I lift up my hands
Lifting hands in prayer is a gesture of supplication and surrender, common in ancient Near Eastern cultures. This physical expression signifies openness and a desire to receive from God. In the Bible, lifting hands is often associated with worship and prayer (e.g., 1 Timothy 2:8). It symbolizes the psalmist's earnestness and humility before God, acknowledging His sovereignty and seeking His intervention.

toward Your holy sanctuary
The holy sanctuary refers to the temple in Jerusalem, the central place of worship for the Israelites. It was considered the dwelling place of God's presence on earth. The psalmist's orientation toward the sanctuary underscores the importance of the temple as a focal point for prayer and divine encounter. This reflects the cultural and religious significance of the temple in Jewish life. In the New Testament, Jesus is seen as the ultimate fulfillment of the temple, as He embodies God's presence among His people (John 2:19-21).

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
Traditionally attributed as the author of this psalm, David is expressing a personal plea for God's intervention and mercy.

2. God
The recipient of David's prayer, God is portrayed as the source of mercy and help.

3. Holy Sanctuary
Refers to the temple or the dwelling place of God, symbolizing His presence and holiness.
Teaching Points
The Posture of Prayer
Lifting hands is a biblical gesture of surrender and earnest prayer. It signifies openness and a desire for God's intervention.

Seeking God's Mercy
The psalm emphasizes the importance of seeking God's mercy, recognizing our dependence on His grace.

The Sanctuary as a Symbol
The holy sanctuary represents God's presence. In the New Testament context, believers are encouraged to approach God directly through Christ.

Persistent Prayer
David's cry for help teaches the value of persistence in prayer, trusting that God hears and responds.

God's Readiness to Hear
This verse reassures believers that God is attentive to our cries and ready to extend His mercy.(2) Lift up my hands.--For interesting illustrations of this Oriental custom see Exodus 9:29; 1Kings 8:22, &c. Compare the well-known line:--

"If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer."

TENNYSON: Morte d'Arthur.

Holy oracle.--Better, the shrine of thy sanctuary (see margin)--i.e., the holy of holies, the adytum, or inner recess of the Temple in which the ark was placed, as we see from 1Kings 6:19-22. The Hebrew word, which is of doubtful derivation, is, with the exception of this place, only found in Kings and Chronicles. The margin, "the oracle of thy sanctuary," is a better rendering than the text.

Verse 2. - Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee. God is said to hear prayer when he grants it, to be deaf to prayer when he withholds the boon requested. The use of the expressions "voice" and "cry" marks the earnestness of the prayers offered. When I lift up my hands, The usual attitude of a Hebrew in prayer (see Exodus 9:29; Exodus 17:11, 12; 1 Kings 8:22, 54; Psalm 63:4; Psalm 141:2; Lamentations 2:19; Lamentations 3:41). Originally, the idea probably was that the hands should be ready to receive the blessings which God would bestow. But, later on, the lifting up of the hands seems to have been regarded as symbolizing the lifting up of the heart (Lamentations 3:41). Towards thy holy oracle (see the comment on Psalm 5:7).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Hear
שְׁמַ֤ע (šə·ma‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

my cry
ק֣וֹל (qō·wl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

for mercy
תַּ֭חֲנוּנַי (ta·ḥă·nū·nay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 8469: Supplication for favor

when I call
בְּשַׁוְּעִ֣י (bə·šaw·wə·‘î)
Preposition-b | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7768: To be free, to halloo

to You {for help},
אֵלֶ֑יךָ (’ê·le·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

when I lift up
בְּנָשְׂאִ֥י (bə·nā·śə·’î)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

my hands
יָ֝דַ֗י (yā·ḏay)
Noun - fdc | first person common singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

toward
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Your holy
קָדְשֶֽׁךָ׃ (qāḏ·še·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity

sanctuary.
דְּבִ֥יר (də·ḇîr)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1687: Perhaps (a place of) speaking (the innermost room of Solomon's temple)


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OT Poetry: Psalm 28:2 Hear the voice of my petitions when (Psalm Ps Psa.)
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