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 pilgrimage song.[a]

120 I cried out to the Lord when I was in trouble
    (and he answered me):
Lord, deliver me[b] from lying lips
    and a dishonest tongue!”
What more will be given to you,
    what more will be done to you,
    you dishonest tongue?
Just this:[c] a warrior’s sharpened arrows,
    coupled with burning coals from a wood[d] fire!

Oh, I’m doomed
    because I have been an immigrant in Meshech,
    because I’ve made my home among Kedar’s tents.
I’ve lived far too long
    with people who hate peace.
I’m for peace,
    but when I speak, they are for war.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 120:1 Or song of ascents or song of going up (that is, to Jerusalem); cf Ps 122:4. The heading is found in every psalm from Ps 120 to Ps 134.
  2. Psalm 120:2 Or my soul; also in 120:6
  3. Psalm 120:4 Heb lacks this.
  4. Psalm 120:4 Or the gorse or broom tree