Psalm 120

Common English Bible

Psalm 120

A pilgrimage song.^[a]

120 I cried out to the Lord when I was in trouble
    (and he answered me):
²“Lord, deliver me^[b] from lying lips
    and a dishonest tongue!”
³What more will be given to you,
    what more will be done to you,
    you dishonest tongue?
⁴Just this:^[c] a warrior’s sharpened arrows,
    coupled with burning coals from a wood^[d] fire!

⁵Oh, I’m doomed
    because I have been an immigrant in Meshech,
    because I’ve made my home among Kedar’s tents.
⁶I’ve lived far too long
    with people who hate peace.
⁷I’m for peace,
    but when I speak, they are for war.

Footnotes

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.
Psalm 120:2 Or my soul; also in 120:6
Psalm 120:4 Heb lacks this.
Psalm 120:4 Or the gorse or broom tree

Psalm 121

Common English Bible

Psalm 121

A pilgrimage song.

121 I raise my eyes toward the mountains.
    Where will my help come from?
²My help comes from the Lord,
    the maker of heaven and earth.
³God won’t let your foot slip.
    Your protector won’t fall asleep on the job.
⁴No! Israel’s protector
    never sleeps or rests!
⁵The Lord is your protector;
    the Lord is your shade right beside you.
⁶The sun won’t strike you during the day;
    neither will the moon at night.
⁷The Lord will protect you from all evil;
    God will protect your very life.^[a]
⁸The Lord will protect you on your journeys—
    whether going or coming—
    from now until forever from now.

Footnotes

Psalm 121:7 Or your soul

Psalm 122

Common English Bible

Psalm 122

A pilgrimage song. Of David.

122 I rejoiced with those who said to me,
“Let’s go to the Lord’s house!”
²Now our feet are standing
in your gates, Jerusalem!

³Jerusalem is built like a city
    joined together in unity.
⁴That is where the tribes go up—
    the Lord’s tribes!
It is the law for Israel
    to give thanks there to the Lord’s name,
⁵    because the thrones of justice are there—
    the thrones of the house of David!

⁶Pray that Jerusalem has peace:
    “Let those who love you have rest.
⁷    Let there be peace on your walls;
    let there be rest on your fortifications.”
⁸For the sake of my family and friends,
    I say, “Peace be with you, Jerusalem.”
⁹For the sake of the Lord our God’s house
    I will pray for your good.

Psalm 123

Common English Bible

Psalm 123

A pilgrimage song.

123 I raise my eyes to you—
    you who rule heaven.
²Just as the eyes of servants attend to their masters’ hand,
    just as the eyes of a female servant attend to her mistress’ hand—
    that’s how our eyes attend to the Lord our God
    until he has mercy on us.

³Have mercy on us, Lord! Have mercy
because we’ve had more than enough shame.
⁴We’ve had more than enough mockery from the self-confident,
more than enough shame from the proud.