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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.

A Song of Ascents

The Lord Lives in Zion

132 Lord, remember in David’s favor
    all of his troubles;
how he swore an oath to the Lord,
    vowing to the Mighty One of Jacob,
“I will not enter[a] my house,
    or lie down on[b] my bed,
or let myself go to sleep[c]
    or even take a nap,[d]
until I locate a place for the Lord,
    a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

We heard about it[e] in Ephrata;[f]
    we found it in the fields of Jaar.[g]
Let’s go to his dwelling place
    and worship at his footstool.

Arise, Lord,
    and go to your resting place,
        you and the ark of your strength.
May your priests be clothed with righteousness
    and may your godly ones shout for joy.
10 For the sake of your servant David,
    don’t turn away the face of your anointed one.

11 The Lord made an oath to David
    from which he will not retreat:
“One of your sons
    I will set in place on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenant
    and my statutes that I will teach them,
        then their sons will also sit on your throne forever.”

13 For the Lord has chosen Zion,
    desiring it as his dwelling place.
14 “This is my resting place forever.
    Here I will live,
        because I desire to do so.
15 I will bless its provisions abundantly;
    I will satiate its poor with food.[h]
16 I will clothe its priests with salvation
    and its godly ones will shout for joy.
17 There I will create a power base[i] for David—
    I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one.
18 I will clothe his enemies with disgrace,
    but on him his crown will shine.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 132:3 Lit. enter the tent that is
  2. Psalm 132:3 Lit. on the couch that is
  3. Psalm 132:4 Lit. or give sleep to my eyes
  4. Psalm 132:4 Lit. or let my eyelids slumber
  5. Psalm 132:6 I.e. the Ark of the Covenant
  6. Psalm 132:6 I.e. the region of Bethlehem
  7. Psalm 132:6 Cf. 1Sam 7:1-2; 1Chr 16:5-6
  8. Psalm 132:15 Lit. bread
  9. Psalm 132:17 Lit. will cause a horn to sprout