Psalm 132

David and Zion Chosen

A song of ascents.

Lord, remember David
and all the hardships he endured,(A)
and how he swore an oath to the Lord,
making a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:(B)
“I will not enter my house
or get into my bed,
I will not allow my eyes to sleep
or my eyelids to slumber(C)
until I find a place for the Lord,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”(D)

We heard of the ark in Ephrathah;[a](E)
we found it in the fields of Jaar.[b](F)
Let’s go to his dwelling place;
let’s worship at his footstool.(G)
Rise up, Lord, come to your resting place,
you and your powerful ark.(H)
May your priests be clothed with righteousness,
and may your faithful people shout for joy.(I)
10 For the sake of your servant David,
do not reject your anointed one.[c](J)

11 The Lord swore an oath to David,
a promise he will not abandon:
“I will set one of your offspring[d]
on your throne.(K)
12 If your sons keep my covenant
and my decrees that I will teach them,
their sons will also sit on your throne forever.”(L)

13 For the Lord has chosen Zion;
he has desired it for his home:(M)
14 “This is my resting place forever;
I will make my home here
because I have desired it.(N)
15 I will abundantly bless its food;
I will satisfy its needy with bread.(O)
16 I will clothe its priests with salvation,
and its faithful people will shout for joy.(P)
17 There I will make a horn grow for David;(Q)
I have prepared a lamp[e] for my anointed one.(R)
18 I will clothe his enemies with shame,(S)
but the crown he wears[f] will be glorious.”(T)

Footnotes

  1. 132:6 = Bethlehem
  2. 132:6 = Kiriath-jearim
  3. 132:10 = the king
  4. 132:11 Lit set the fruit of your belly
  5. 132:17 Or dominion
  6. 132:18 Lit but on him his crown

Psalm 132

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

Lord, remember David
    and all that he suffered.
He made a solemn promise to the Lord.
    He vowed to the Mighty One of Israel,[a]
“I will not go home;
    I will not let myself rest.
I will not let my eyes sleep
    nor close my eyelids in slumber
until I find a place to build a house for the Lord,
    a sanctuary for the Mighty One of Israel.”

We heard that the Ark was in Ephrathah;
    then we found it in the distant countryside of Jaar.
Let us go to the sanctuary of the Lord;
    let us worship at the footstool of his throne.
Arise, O Lord, and enter your resting place,
    along with the Ark, the symbol of your power.
May your priests be clothed in godliness;
    may your loyal servants sing for joy.
10 For the sake of your servant David,
    do not reject the king you have anointed.
11 The Lord swore an oath to David
    with a promise he will never take back:
“I will place one of your descendants
    on your throne.
12 If your descendants obey the terms of my covenant
    and the laws that I teach them,
then your royal line
    will continue forever and ever.”

13 For the Lord has chosen Jerusalem[b];
    he has desired it for his home.
14 “This is my resting place forever,” he said.
    “I will live here, for this is the home I desired.
15 I will bless this city and make it prosperous;
    I will satisfy its poor with food.
16 I will clothe its priests with godliness;
    its faithful servants will sing for joy.
17 Here I will increase the power of David;
    my anointed one will be a light for my people.
18 I will clothe his enemies with shame,
    but he will be a glorious king.”

Footnotes

  1. 132:2 Hebrew of Jacob; also in 132:5. See note on 44:4.
  2. 132:13 Hebrew Zion.