1 The words “I said” are supplied in the translation for clarification. See the introductory note for this psalm.
2 Or “my life.”
3 Heb “from a lip of falsehood.”
4 Heb “from a tongue of deception.”
5 Heb “What will he give to you, and what will he add to you, O tongue of deception?” The psalmist addresses his deceptive enemies. The Lord is the understood subject of the verbs “give” and “add.” The second part of the question echoes a standard curse formula, “thus the Lord/God will do … and thus he will add” (see Ruth 1:17; 1 Sam 3:17; 14:44; 20:13; 25:22; 2 Sam 3:9, 35; 19:13; 1 Kgs 2:23; 2 Kgs 6:31).
6 The words “here’s how” are supplied in the translation as a clarification. In v. 4 the psalmist answers the question he raises in v. 3.
7 Heb “with coals of the wood of the broom plant.” The wood of the broom plant was used to make charcoal, which in turn was used to fuel the fire used to forge the arrowheads.
8 Or “woe to me.” The Hebrew term אוֹיָה (’oyah, “woe”) which occurs only here, is an alternate form of אוֹי (’oy).
9 Heb “I live as a resident alien.”
10 Meshech was located in central Anatolia (modern Turkey). Kedar was located in the desert to east-southeast of Israel. Because of the reference to Kedar, it is possible that Ps 120:5 refers to a different Meshech, perhaps one associated with the individual mentioned as a descendant of Aram in 1 Chr 1:17. (However, the in 1 Chr 1:17 follows the parallel text in Gen 10:23, which reads “Mash,” not Meshech.) It is, of course, impossible that the psalmist could have been living in both the far north and the east at the same time. For this reason one must assume that he is recalling his experience as a wanderer among the nations or that he is using the geographical terms metaphorically and sarcastically to suggest that the enemies who surround him are like the barbarians who live in these distant regions. For a discussion of the problem, see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101–150 (), .
11 The singular participial form probably has a representative function here. The psalmist envisions the typical hater of peace who represents the entire category of such individuals.
12 Heb “I, peace.”
13 Heb “they [are] for war.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Deliver me, O Lord,

from lying lips,

from a deceitful tongue.

What shall be given to you,

and what more shall be done to you,

you deceitful tongue?

A warrior’s sharp arrows,

with glowing coals of the broom tree!

Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech,

that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!

Too long have I had my dwelling

among those who hate peace.

I am for peace,

but when I speak, they are for war!

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Save me, Lord,

from lying lips

and from deceitful tongues.

What will he do to you,

and what more besides,

you deceitful tongue?

He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows,

with burning coals of the broom bush.

Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek,

that I live among the tents of Kedar!

Too long have I lived

among those who hate peace.

I am for peace;

but when I speak, they are for war.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“Lord, rescue me from lying lips

and a deceitful tongue.”

What will he give you,

and what will he do to you,

you deceitful tongue?

A warrior’s sharp arrows

with burning charcoal!

What misery that I have stayed in Meshech,

that I have lived among the tents of Kedar!

I have dwelt too long

with those who hate peace.

I am for peace; but when I speak,

they are for war.

NLTNew Living Translation

Rescue me, O Lord, from liars

and from all deceitful people.

O deceptive tongue, what will God do to you?

How will he increase your punishment?

You will be pierced with sharp arrows

and burned with glowing coals.

How I suffer in far-off Meshech.

It pains me to live in distant Kedar.

I am tired of living

among people who hate peace.

I search for peace;

but when I speak of peace, they want war!

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“Deliver my life, O Yahweh, from lying lips,

from a deceitful tongue.”

What shall be given to you,

and what more shall be done to you,

deceitful tongue?

The sharpened arrows of a warrior,

with burning charcoals from broom trees.

Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech,

that I dwell among the tents of Kedar.

Too long my soul has had its dwelling

near one who hates peace.

I am for peace, but when I speak,

they are for war.

KJV 1900King James Version

Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips,

And from a deceitful tongue.

What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee,

Thou false tongue?

Sharp arrows of the mighty,

With coals of juniper.

Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech,

That I dwell in the tents of Kedar!

My soul hath long dwelt

With him that hateth peace.

I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.

Public Domain