Psalm 120
Expanded Bible
A Prayer of Someone Far from Home
A psalm ·for going up to worship [of ascents; C perhaps sung while traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate an annual religious festival like Passover].
120 When I was in ·trouble [distress], I called to the Lord,
and he answered me.
2 Lord, ·save [protect] me from ·liars [L false lips]
and from ·those who plan evil [L a deceptive tongue].
3 ·You who plan evil [L O deceptive tongue], what will ·God do [L he give] to you?
·How will he punish [L What will he add to] you?
4 ·He will punish you with the sharp arrows of a warrior
and with burning coals of wood [L The sharp arrows of a warrior and the burning coals of a broom tree; C the broom tree produces excellent charcoal].
5 ·How terrible it is for [L Woe to] me to ·live in the land of [L sojourn/wander in] Meshech [C by the Black Sea in Asia Minor; Gen. 10:2; Ezek. 38:2],
to ·live [dwell; reside] among the ·people [L tents] of Kedar [C in the Arabian desert; Is. 21:16–17; Jer. 2:10; 49:28; Ezek. 27:21].
6 I have ·lived [dwelt; resided] too long
with people who hate peace.
7 When I talk peace,
they want war.
Psalm 120
New American Standard Bible
Prayer for Rescue from the Treacherous.
A Song of [a]Ascents.
120 (A)I cried to the Lord in my trouble,
And He answered me.
2 Rescue my soul, Lord, from (B)lying lips,
From a (C)deceitful tongue.
3 What will He give to you, and what more will He do to you,
You (D)deceitful tongue?
4 (E)Sharp arrows of the warrior,
With the burning (F)coals of the broom tree!
5 Woe to me, for I reside in (G)Meshech,
For I have settled among the (H)tents of (I)Kedar!
6 Too long has my soul had its dwelling
With those who (J)hate peace.
7 I (K)am for peace, but when I speak,
They are (L)for war.
Footnotes
- Psalm 120 Title Ex 34:24; 1 Kin 12:27
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New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
