Deliver Me, O Lord

A Song of (A)Ascents.

120 In my distress I called to the Lord,
    and he answered me.
Deliver me, O Lord,
    from lying lips,
    from a deceitful tongue.

What shall be given to you,
    (B)and what more shall be done to you,
    you deceitful tongue?
(C)A warrior's (D)sharp arrows,
    with glowing (E)coals of the broom tree!

Woe to me, that I sojourn in (F)Meshech,
    that I dwell among (G)the tents of (H)Kedar!
Too long have I had my dwelling
    among those who hate peace.
(I)I am for peace,
    but when I speak, they are for war!

Psalm 120

A song of ascents.

I call on the Lord(A) in my distress,(B)
    and he answers me.
Save me, Lord,
    from lying lips(C)
    and from deceitful tongues.(D)

What will he do to you,
    and what more besides,
    you deceitful tongue?
He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows,(E)
    with burning coals of the broom bush.

Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek,
    that I live among the tents of Kedar!(F)
Too long have I lived
    among those who hate peace.
I am for peace;
    but when I speak, they are for war.

A song for going up to the Temple.

120 I was in trouble.
    I called to the Lord for help,
    and he answered me!
I said, “Lord, save me from liars,
    from those who say things that are not true.”

Liars, do you know what the Lord has for you?
    Do you know what you will get?
You will get a soldier’s sharp arrow
    and hot coals to punish you.

How I hate living here among these people!
    It’s like living in Meshech or in the tents of Kedar.[a]
I have lived too long
    with those who hate peace.
I ask for peace,
    but they want war.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 120:5 Meshech … Kedar Places where the people were known as wild and savage fighters.