Psalm 120–134
1 I call on the Lordv in my distress,w
and he answers me.
from lying lipsx
and from deceitful tongues.y
and what more besides,
you deceitful tongue?
4 He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows,z
with burning coals of the broom bush.
5 Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek,
that I live among the tents of Kedar!a
among those who hate peace.
but when I speak, they are for war.
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heavenb and earth.c
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watchesd over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches overe you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sunf will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harmg—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.h
1 I rejoiced with those who said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
in your gates, Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is built like a city
that is closely compacted together.
4 That is where the tribes go up—
the tribes of the Lord—
to praise the name of the Lord
according to the statute given to Israel.
5 There stand the thrones for judgment,
the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who lovei you be secure.
7 May there be peacej within your walls
and security within your citadels.k”
8 For the sake of my family and friends,
I will say, “Peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your prosperity.l
to you who sit enthronedm in heaven.
2 As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lordn our God,
till he shows us his mercy.
3 Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,
for we have endured no end of contempt.
of ridicule from the arrogant,
of contempt from the proud.
1 If the Lord had not been on our side—
let Israel sayo—
2 if the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
3 they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
4 the floodp would have engulfed us,
the torrentq would have swept over us,
would have swept us away.
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
from the fowler’s snare;r
the snare has been broken,s
and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the namet of the Lord,
the Maker of heavenu and earth.
1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,v
which cannot be shakenw but endures forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,x
so the Lord surroundsy his people
both now and forevermore.
3 The scepterz of the wicked will not remaina
over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
their hands to do evil.b
4 Lord, do goodc to those who are good,
to those who are upright in heart.d
5 But those who turne to crooked waysf
the Lord will banishg with the evildoers.
Peace be on Israel.h
1 When the Lord restoredi the fortunes ofa Zion,
we were like those who dreamed.b
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,j
our tongues with songs of joy.k
Then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great thingsl for them.”
3 The Lord has done great thingsm for us,
and we are filled with joy.n
4 Restore our fortunes,c o Lord,
like streams in the Negev.p
5 Those who sow with tearsq
will reapr with songs of joy.s
6 Those who go out weeping,t
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them.
A song of ascents. Of Solomon.
1 Unless the Lord buildsu the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watchesv over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
and stay up late,
toiling for foodw to eat—
for he grants sleepx toa those he loves.y
3 Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a rewardz from him.
4 Like arrowsa in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
whose quiver is full of them.b
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponentsc in court.d
1 Blessed are all who fear the Lord,e
who walk in obedience to him.f
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;g
blessings and prosperityh will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vinei
within your house;
your childrenj will be like olive shootsk
around your table.
4 Yes, this will be the blessingl
for the man who fears the Lord.m
5 May the Lord bless you from Zion;n
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalemo
all the days of your life.
6 May you live to see your children’s children—p
peace be on Israel.q
1 “They have greatly oppressedr me from my youth,”s
let Israel say;t
2 “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
but they have not gained the victoryu over me.
and made their furrows long.
4 But the Lord is righteous;v
he has cut me freew from the cords of the wicked.”x
5 May all who hate Ziony
be turned back in shame.z
6 May they be like grass on the roof,a
which withersb before it can grow;
7 a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,c
nor one who gathers fill his arms.
8 May those who pass by not say to them,
“The blessing of the Lord be on you;
we bless youd in the name of the Lord.”
1 Out of the depthse I cry to you,f Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice.g
Let your ears be attentiveh
to my cry for mercy.i
3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?j
4 But with you there is forgiveness,k
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.l
5 I wait for the Lord,m my whole being waits,n
and in his wordo I put my hope.
more than watchmenp wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.q
7 Israel, put your hoper in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing loves
and with him is full redemption.t
8 He himself will redeemu Israel
from all their sins.v
1 My heart is not proud,w Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;x
I do not concern myself with great mattersy
or things too wonderful for me.z
2 But I have calmed and quieted myself,a
I am like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child I am content.b
3 Israel, put your hopec in the Lord
both now and forevermore.d
and all his self-denial.e
2 He swore an oath to the Lord,
he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:f
3 “I will not enter my houseg
or go to my bed,
4 I will allow no sleep to my eyes
or slumber to my eyelids,
5 till I find a placeh for the Lord,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
6 We heard it in Ephrathah,i
we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:a j
7 “Let us go to his dwelling place,k
let us worship at his footstool,l saying,
8 ‘Arise, Lord,m and come to your resting place,
you and the ark of your might.
9 May your priests be clothed with your righteousness;n
may your faithful peopleo sing for joy.’ ”
10 For the sake of your servant David,
do not reject your anointed one.
11 The Lord swore an oath to David,p
a sure oath he will not revoke:
“One of your own descendantsq
I will place on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenantr
and the statutes I teach them,
then their sons will sit
on your thrones for ever and ever.”
13 For the Lord has chosen Zion,t
he has desired it for his dwelling,u saying,
14 “This is my resting place for ever and ever;v
here I will sit enthroned,w for I have desired it.
15 I will bless her with abundant provisions;
her poor I will satisfy with food.x
16 I will clothe her priestsy with salvation,
and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.z
17 “Here I will make a hornb growa for David
and set up a lampb for my anointed one.c
18 I will clothe his enemies with shame,d
but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”e
when God’s people live togetherf in unity!g
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,h
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dewi of Hermonj
were falling on Mount Zion.k
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,l
even life forevermore.m
1 Praise the Lord, all you servantsn of the Lord
who ministero by nightp in the house of the Lord.
2 Lift up your handsq in the sanctuaryr
and praise the Lord.s
3 May the Lord bless you from Zion,t
he who is the Maker of heavenu and earth.