Psalm 125

A song of ascents.

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,(A)
    which cannot be shaken(B) but endures forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,(C)
    so the Lord surrounds(D) his people
    both now and forevermore.

The scepter(E) of the wicked will not remain(F)
    over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
    their hands to do evil.(G)

Lord, do good(H) to those who are good,
    to those who are upright in heart.(I)
But those who turn(J) to crooked ways(K)
    the Lord will banish(L) with the evildoers.

Peace be on Israel.(M)

Confidence in Yahweh’s Protection

A song of ascents.[a]

125 Those who trust in Yahweh
are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved,
but abides forever.
As mountains are round about Jerusalem,
so Yahweh is round about his people,
from now until forever.
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
on the land[b] of the righteous,
lest the righteous stretch out
their hands to do wickedness.[c]
Do good, O Yahweh, to the good,
and to those upright in their hearts.
But regarding those who turn aside to their crooked ways,
Yahweh will lead them away with the evildoers.
Peace be upon Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 125:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
  2. Psalm 125:3 Literally “lot,” that is, land allotted
  3. Psalm 125:3 Hebrew “in wickedness”

125 They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.

As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.

For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.

Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.

As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.