Hear My Cry, O God, Listen to My Prayer

Psalm 61 is a prayer from far away. David calls to God "from the end of the earth" — from the farthest place, when his heart grows faint. Yet from there rises one of the most beautiful prayers in the book: lead me to a rock that is higher than I. From the distant cry grow images of closeness: a refuge, a tower of strength, a tent to dwell in forever, and the shelter of wings. A psalm that begins at the greatest distance ends in the greatest closeness.

The chapter is a complete journey: a cry, a fortress, a tent, vows that were heard, a prayer for the king — and the closing promise: "So I will sing praise to Your name forever," fulfilling my vows day after day. The melody, in a joyful rhythmic Mizrahi style, turns this prayer into a dance of trust — whoever has a tower of strength can sing with joy.

The central verses, chosen as the chorus and the title of the song, are:

"Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer... So I will sing praise to Your name forever, fulfilling my vows day after day."

"My cry" is the call that bursts from the heart; "fulfilling my vows" means keeping my promises. The chorus joins the opening of the psalm with its ending — the plea "hear me" and the answer "I will sing to You every day."

This song is part of the larger journey of the project: with God's help, to compose and sing the entire Book of Psalms in a diverse, emotional, Jewish, and uplifting musical language.