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

Psalm 120

A song of ascents.

I call on the Lord(A) in my distress,(B)
    and he answers me.
Save me, Lord,
    from lying lips(C)
    and from deceitful tongues.(D)

What will he do to you,
    and what more besides,
    you deceitful tongue?
He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows,(E)
    with burning coals of the broom bush.

Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek,
    that I live among the tents of Kedar!(F)
Too long have I lived
    among those who hate peace.
I am for peace;
    but when I speak, they are for war.

A Song of Ascents.

120 In my distress, I cried to Yahweh.
    He answered me.
Deliver my soul, Yahweh, from lying lips,
    from a deceitful tongue.
What will be given to you, and what will be done more to you,
    you deceitful tongue?
Sharp arrows of the mighty,
    with coals of juniper.
Woe is me, that I live in Meshech,
    that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
My soul has had her dwelling too long
    with him who hates peace.
I am for peace,
    but when I speak, they are for war.