Psalm 120:1-134:3

Psalm 120 1A song of ascents. I call on the LORD in my distress, and he answers me.

2Save me, LORD, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.

3What will he do to you, and what more besides, you deceitful tongue?

4He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom bush.

5Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek, that I live among the tents of Kedar!

6Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. 7I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.

Psalm 121 1A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?

2My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

3He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;

4indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

5The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

6the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

7The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; 8the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Psalm 122 1A song of ascents. Of David. I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD .”

2Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem.

3Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together.

4That is where the tribes go up— the tribes of the LORD — to praise the name of the LORD according to the statute given to Israel.

5There stand the thrones for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.

6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure.

7May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.”

8For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” 9For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity.

Psalm 123 1A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven.

2As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he shows us his mercy.

3Have mercy on us, LORD, have mercy on us, for we have endured no end of contempt. 4We have endured no end of ridicule from the arrogant, of contempt from the proud.

Psalm 124 1A song of ascents. Of David. If the LORD had not been on our side— let Israel say—

2if the LORD had not been on our side when people attacked us,

3they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us;

4the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us,

5the raging waters would have swept us away.

6Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth.

7We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. 8Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 125 1A song of ascents. Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

2As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.

3The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil.

4LORD, do good to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart. 5But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers. Peace be on Israel.

Psalm 126 1A song of ascents. When the LORD restored the fortunes of Or Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Or those restored to health

2Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”

3The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

4Restore our fortunes, Or Bring back our captives LORD, like streams in the Negev.

5Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. 6Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

Psalm 127 1A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

2In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to Or eat— / for while they sleep he provides for those he loves.

3Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.

4Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. 5Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.

Psalm 128 1A song of ascents. Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him.

2You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.

3Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.

4Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the LORD .

5May the LORD bless you from Zion; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. 6May you live to see your children’s children— peace be on Israel.

Psalm 129 1A song of ascents. “They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,” let Israel say;

2“they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me.

3Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long.

4But the LORD is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.”

5May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.

6May they be like grass on the roof, which withers before it can grow;

7a reaper cannot fill his hands with it, nor one who gathers fill his arms. 8May those who pass by not say to them, “The blessing of the LORD be on you; we bless you in the name of the LORD .”

Psalm 130 1A song of ascents. Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD ;

2Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

3If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?

4But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

5I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

6I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

7Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. 8He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Psalm 131 1A song of ascents. Of David. My heart is not proud, LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.

2But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. 3Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.

Psalm 132 1A song of ascents. LORD, remember David and all his self-denial.

2He swore an oath to the LORD, he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:

3“I will not enter my house or go to my bed,

4I will allow no sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,

5till I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

6We heard it in Ephrathah, we came upon it in the fields of Jaar: Or heard of it in Ephrathah, / we found it in the fields of Jearim. (See 1 Chron. 13:5,6) (And no quotation marks around verses 7-9)

7“Let us go to his dwelling place, let us worship at his footstool, saying,

8‘Arise, LORD, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.

9May your priests be clothed with your righteousness; may your faithful people sing for joy.’ ”

10For the sake of your servant David, do not reject your anointed one.

11The LORD swore an oath to David, a sure oath he will not revoke: “One of your own descendants I will place on your throne.

12If your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever.”

13For the LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling, saying,

14“This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.

15I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor I will satisfy with food.

16I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.

17“Here I will make a horn Horn here symbolizes strong one, that is, king. grow for David and set up a lamp for my anointed one. 18I will clothe his enemies with shame, but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”

Psalm 133 1A song of ascents. Of David. How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

2It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. 3It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

Psalm 134 1A song of ascents. Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD .

2Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD . 3May the LORD bless you from Zion, he who is the Maker of heaven and earth.