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Psalm 61:1

For the Chief Musician. For a stringed instrument. By David. Hear my cry, God. Listen to my prayer.

1For the Chief Musician. For a stringed instrument. By David. Hear my cry, God. Listen to my prayer.
2From the end of the earth, I will call to you when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3For you have been a refuge for me, a strong tower from the enemy.
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Psalm 61:2 →
Notice

David’s cry asks for God’s attention before naming his trouble, making room for the plain desire to be heard in prayer.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

What would you add after David’s opening request for God to hear his cry?

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What difference, if any, do you hear between a cry and a prayer?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

7 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Philippians 4:6In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.Both direct requests to God, with David asking to be heard and Paul teaching prayer with thanksgiving.
Psalm 4:1For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm by David. Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy …Both prayers ask God to hear, with Psalm 4 adding an explicit plea for relief from distress.
Psalm 55:1For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by David. Listen to my prayer, God. Don’t hide yourself from my supplication.Both Davidic songs are set for stringed instruments and open with a plea for God to hear prayer.
Psalm 86:6Hear, LORD, my prayer. Listen to the voice of my petitions.Both prayers pair the words “Hear” and “Listen” in asking for God’s attention.
Lamentations 3:25The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.David seeks God through his cry; Lamentations speaks of the LORD’s goodness to the soul who seeks him.
Psalm 17:1A Prayer by David. Hear, LORD, my righteous plea. Give ear to my prayer that doesn’t go out of deceitful lips.Both prayers of David ask God to hear, while Psalm 17 also speaks of the truthfulness of his plea.
Ezekiel 36:3therefore prophesy, and say, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Because, even because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that you might be a …The overlap is limited to speech: David asks God to listen, while Ezekiel reports hostile talk.
Where this verse fits

Wanting a steady prayer habit. feeling distant from God. anxiety or panic.

What the Bible says about doubt →What the Bible says about anxiety →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Pray Psalm 61:1 aloud before bed tonight

prayeroncelight
Encouragement

Your prayer may begin with a request to be heard. David’s opening words contain no explanation of his trouble; he directs his cry to God.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 61:1. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 61 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).