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Psalm 120

A Song of [a]Ascents.

In my distress I cried to the Lord, and He answered me.

Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.

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

Sharp arrows of a [mighty] warrior, with [glowing] coals of the broom tree!

Woe is me that I sojourn with Meshech, that I dwell beside the tents of Kedar [as if among notoriously barbarous people]!(A)

My life has too long had its dwelling with him who hates 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 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.

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!

Psalm 120

A song for going up to worship.

When I was in trouble, I cried out to Yahweh,
    and he answered me.
O Yahweh, rescue me from lying lips
    and from a deceitful tongue.

You deceitful tongue, what can Yahweh give you?
    What more can he do for you?
        He will give you a warrior’s sharpened arrows and red-hot coals.

How horrible it is to live as a foreigner in Meshech
    or to stay in the tents of Kedar.
        I have lived too long with those who hate peace.
        I am for peace, but when I talk about it,
            they only talk about war.

Deliver Me, O Lord

A Song of (A)Ascents.

120 In my distress I called to the Lord,
    and he answered me.
Deliver me, O Lord,
    from lying lips,
    from a deceitful tongue.

What shall be given to you,
    (B)and what more shall be done to you,
    you deceitful tongue?
(C)A warrior's (D)sharp arrows,
    with glowing (E)coals of the broom tree!

Woe to me, that I sojourn in (F)Meshech,
    that I dwell among (G)the tents of (H)Kedar!
Too long have I had my dwelling
    among those who hate peace.
(I)I am for peace,
    but when I speak, they are for war!