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 Cry for Truth and Peace

A song of ascents.

In my distress I called to the Lord,
and he answered me.(A)
Lord, rescue me from lying lips
and a deceitful tongue.”(B)

What will he give you,
and what will he do to you,
you deceitful tongue?(C)
A warrior’s sharp arrows
with burning charcoal![a](D)

What misery that I have stayed in Meshech,[b](E)
that I have lived among the tents of Kedar![c](F)
I have dwelt too long
with those who hate peace.(G)
I am for peace; but when I speak,
they are for war.(H)

Footnotes

  1. 120:4 Lit with coals of the broom bush
  2. 120:5 = a people far to the north of Palestine
  3. 120:5 = a nomadic people of the desert to the southeast