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

Prayer for Deliverance from Slanderers

A Song of Ascents.

In my distress I cry to the Lord,
    that he may answer me:(A)
“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!(B)

Woe is me, that I am an alien in Meshech,
    that I must live among the tents of Kedar.(C)
Too long have I had my dwelling
    among those who hate peace.
I am for peace,
    but when I speak,
    they are for war.

A Song of degrees.

120 In my trouble I called unto Jehovah, and he answered me.

Jehovah, deliver my soul from the lying lip, from the deceitful tongue.

What shall be given unto thee, what shall be added unto thee, thou deceitful tongue?

Sharp arrows of a mighty one, with burning coals of broom-wood.

Woe is me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!

My soul hath long dwelt with them that hate peace.

I [am for] peace; but when I speak, *they* [are] for war.

120 1-2 I’m in trouble. I cry to God,
    desperate for an answer:
“Deliver me from the liars, God!
    They smile so sweetly but lie through their teeth.”

3-4 Do you know what’s next, can you see what’s coming,
    all you bold-faced liars?
Pointed arrows and burning coals
    will be your reward.

5-7 I’m doomed to live in Meshech,
    cursed with a home in Kedar,
My whole life lived camping
    among quarreling neighbors.
I’m all for peace, but the minute
    I tell them so, they go to war!