Psalms 120
120
PSALM 120
Common Meter: 8,6,8,6
A Song of Ascents
1In my distress to God I cry'd,
and he gave ear to me.
2From lying lips, and guileful tongue,
O Lord, my soul set free.
3What shall be giv'n thee? or what
shall be done to thee, false tongue?
4Ev'n burning coals of juniper,
sharp arrows of the strong.
5Woe's me that I in Mesech am
a sojourner so long;
That I in tabernacles dwell
to Kedar that belong.
6My soul with him that hateth peace
hath long a dweller been.
7I am for peace; but when I speak,
for battle they are keen.
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Psalms 120: MP1650
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maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
Psalms 120
120
God Helped Me
A song of the stairway # 120 Psalms 120–134 all begin with the words “A song to take you higher” or “A song of ascent” or “A song of the stairway.” It is likely these fifteen songs were sung on the fifteen steps that would take the worshiper into the temple. On each step they would stop to worship and sing the corresponding psalm as they went up ever higher into the temple to worship God. Others believe they were the songs sung as David brought up the ark of glory to Jerusalem. They are also known as “Songs of Degrees” or “Songs of Ascent.” One Hebrew manuscript titles them “Songs of the Homeward Marches.”
1I was desperate for you to help me in my struggles, and you did!
2So come and deliver me now
from this treachery and false accusation.
3O lying deceivers, don’t you know what is your fate?
4You will be pierced through with condemnation
and consumed with burning coals of fire!
5Why am I doomed to live as an alien,
scattered among these cruel savages? # 120:5 The Hebrew text includes the word Meshech, which is a foreign land. The meaning of the word Meshech is “to scatter” and may refer to ancient Persia.
Am I destined to dwell in the darkened tents of desert nomads? # 120:5 The Hebrew text includes the word Kedar, who was one of Ishmael’s sons, whose descendants became a wandering group of nomads. Kedar means “a dark place.” See Song. 1:5.
6For too long I’ve had to live among those who hate peace.
7I speak words of peace while they speak words of war,
but they refuse to listen.
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