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120 In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.

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.

Prayer for Rescue from the Treacherous.

A Song of [a]Ascents.

120 (A)I cried to the Lord in my trouble,
And He answered me.
Rescue my soul, Lord, from (B)lying lips,
From a (C)deceitful tongue.
What will He give to you, and what more will He do to you,
You (D)deceitful tongue?
(E)Sharp arrows of the warrior,
With the burning (F)coals of the broom tree!

Woe to me, for I reside in (G)Meshech,
For I have settled among the (H)tents of (I)Kedar!
Too long has my soul had its dwelling
With those who (J)hate peace.
I (K)am for peace, but when I speak,
They are (L)for war.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 120 Title Ex 34:24; 1 Kin 12:27

Psalm 120

A Cry for Truth and Peace

A song of ascents.

In my distress I called to the Lord,
and He answered me.(A)
Lord, deliver me from lying lips
and a deceitful tongue.”(B)

What will He give you,
and what will He do to you,
you deceitful tongue?(C)
A warrior’s sharp arrows
with burning charcoal![a](D)

What misery that I have stayed in Meshech,[b](E)
that I have lived among the tents of Kedar![c](F)
I have lived too long
with those who hate peace.(G)
I am for peace; but when I speak,
they are for war.(H)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 120:4 Lit with coals of the broom bush
  2. Psalm 120:5 = a people far to the north of Palestine
  3. Psalm 120:5 = a nomadic people of the desert to the southeast

Prayer for Breaking Away from the Treacherous.

A Song of [a]Ascents.

120 In my trouble I cried to the Lord,
And He answered me.

Rescue my soul, O Lord, from lying lips,
And from a deceitful tongue.

What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you,
You deceitful tongue?—

Sharp arrows of the warrior,
With the [b]burning coals of the broom tree.


Woe to me, for I sojourn in Meshech,
and I live among the tents of Kedar [among hostile people]!(A)

Too long my soul has had its dwelling
With those who hate peace.

I am for peace, but when I speak,
They are for war.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 120:1 It is possible that the fifteen psalms (chs 120-134) known as the “Songs of Degrees or Ascents” were sung by the caravans of pilgrims going up to attend the annual feasts at Jerusalem. But it is equally possible that the title has reference to some peculiarity in connection with the music or the manner of using it.
  2. Psalm 120:4 The ancient rabbis explained that coals from a broom tree are unusual in that they continue burning on the inside even after they are extinguished on the outside. They compared this to a person who listens to slander: even if you try to persuade him otherwise and he seems to be convinced, he is still “burning” on the inside, i.e. still unconvinced.

Plegaria ante el peligro de la lengua engañosa

Cántico gradual.

120 A Jehová clamé estando en angustia,

Y él me respondió.

Libra mi alma, oh Jehová, del labio mentiroso,

Y de la lengua fraudulenta.

¿Qué te dará, o qué te aprovechará,

Oh lengua engañosa?

Agudas saetas de valiente,

Con brasas de enebro.

¡Ay de mí, que moro en Mesec,

Y habito entre las tiendas de Cedar!

Mucho tiempo ha morado mi alma

Con los que aborrecen la paz.

Yo soy pacífico;

Mas ellos, así que hablo, me hacen guerra.