Psalm 121
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Psalm 121[a]
The Lord My Guardian
1 A song of ascents.
I raise my eyes toward the mountains.[b]
From whence shall come my help?(A)
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.(B)
3 He will not allow your foot to slip;(C)
or your guardian to sleep.
4 Behold, the guardian of Israel
never slumbers nor sleeps.
5 [c]The Lord is your guardian;
the Lord is your shade
at your right hand.(D)
6 By day the sun will not strike you,
nor the moon by night.(E)
7 The Lord will guard you from all evil;
he will guard your soul.(F)
8 The Lord will guard your coming and going
both now and forever.(G)
Footnotes
- Psalm 121 A blessing given to someone embarking on a dangerous journey whether a soldier going on a campaign or a pilgrim returning home from the Temple. People look anxiously at the wooded hills. Will God protect them on their journey (Ps 121:1)? The speaker declares that God is not confined to a place or a time (Ps 121:2), that every step is guarded (Ps 121:3–4); night and day (Ps 121:5–6) God watches over their every movement (Ps 121:7–8).
- 121:1 The mountains: possibly Mount Zion, the site of the Temple and hence of safety, but more probably mountains as a place of dangers, causing anxiety to the psalmist.
- 121:5–6 The image of shade, a symbol of protection, is apt: God as shade protects from the harmful effects that ancients believed were caused by the sun and moon.
Psalm 121
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Psalm 121
Assurance of God’s Protection
A Song of Ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.
Psalm 121
Good News Translation
The Lord Our Protector
121 I look to the mountains;
where will my help come from?
2 My help will come from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let you fall;
your protector is always awake.
4 The protector of Israel
never dozes or sleeps.
5 The Lord will guard you;
he is by your side to protect you.
6 The sun will not hurt you during the day,
nor the moon during the night.
7 The Lord will protect you from all danger;
he will keep you safe.
8 He will protect you as you come and go
now and forever.
Psalm 121
New American Standard Bible
The Lord, the Keeper of Israel.
A Song of Ascents.
121 I will (A)raise my eyes to (B)the mountains;
From where will my help come?
2 My (C)help comes from the Lord,
Who (D)made heaven and earth.
3 He will not (E)allow your foot to slip;
He who (F)watches over you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who watches over Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your [a](G)protector;
The Lord is your (H)shade on your right hand.
6 The (I)sun will not [b]beat down on you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will [c](J)protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
8 The Lord will [d](K)guard your going out and your coming in
(L)From this time and forever.
Footnotes
- Psalm 121:5 Or keeper
- Psalm 121:6 Lit strike you
- Psalm 121:7 Or keep
- Psalm 121:8 Or keep
Psalm 121
New International Version
Psalm 121
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven(A) and earth.(B)
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches(C) over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
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