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

A Song of Ascents[a]

A Prayer for Deliverance

120 I cried to the Lord in my distress,
    and he responded to me.
Lord, deliver me[b] from lips that lie
    and tongues that deceive.”

What will be given to you,
    and what will be done to you,
        you treacherous tongue?
Like a[c] sharp arrow from a warrior,
    along with fiery coals from juniper trees!

How terrible for me,
    that I am an alien in Meshech,
        that I reside among the tents of Kedar!
I have resided too long
    with those who hate peace.
I am in favor of peace;
    but when I speak,
        they are in favor of war.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 120:1 Or Degrees; and so through Psalm 134
  2. Psalm 120:2 Lit. my soul
  3. Psalm 120:4 The Heb. lacks Like a