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

120 (Shir HaMa’a- lot [Song of Ascents]) In my tzoros I cried unto Hashem, and He heard me.

Save my nefesh, Hashem, from sefat sheker (lying lips), and from lashon remiyyah (a tongue of deceit).

What shall be given unto thee? Or what shall be done unto thee, thou lashon remiyyah?

Sharp khitzim (arrows) of the gibbor, with burning (charcoal) coals of the broom plant.

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

My nefesh hath long dwelt with him that hateth shalom.

I am for shalom; but when I speak, they are for milchamah (war).