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Psalm 122

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

I was glad when they said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
And now here we are,
    standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is a well-built city;
    its seamless walls cannot be breached.
All the tribes of Israel—the Lord’s people—
    make their pilgrimage here.
They come to give thanks to the name of the Lord,
    as the law requires of Israel.
Here stand the thrones where judgment is given,
    the thrones of the dynasty of David.

Pray for peace in Jerusalem.
    May all who love this city prosper.
O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls
    and prosperity in your palaces.
For the sake of my family and friends, I will say,
    “May you have peace.”
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.

Jerusalem the Site of God’s Presence

A song of ascents. Of David.[a]

122 I rejoiced in those who said to me,
“Let us go to the house[b] of Yahweh.”
Our feet are standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem—
Jerusalem that is built
as a city that is joined together,
where the tribes go up,
the tribes of Yah[c] as a testimony for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of Yahweh.
For there the thrones sit[d] for judgment,
thrones of David’s house.
Pray[e] for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love you be at ease.
May peace be within your walls,
security within your palaces.”
For the sake of my brothers and my friends,
I will say, “Peace be within you.”
For the sake of the house[f] of Yahweh our God,
I will seek your good.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 122:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
  2. Psalm 122:1 Or “temple”
  3. Psalm 122:4 A shortened form of “Yahweh”
  4. Psalm 122:5 That is, rulers or judges on thrones
  5. Psalm 122:6 Hebrew “Ask”
  6. Psalm 122:9 Or “temple”