120:1<A Song of the going up.> In my trouble my cry went up to the Lord, and he gave me an answer. 120:2O Lord, be the saviour of my soul from false lips, and from the tongue of deceit. 120:3What punishment will he give you? what more will he do to you, you false tongue? 120:4Sharp arrows of the strong, and burning fire. 120:5Sorrow is mine because I am strange in Meshech, and living in the tents of Kedar. 120:6My soul has long been living with the haters of peace. 120:7I am for peace: but when I say so, they are for war.
121:1<A Song of the going up.> My eyes are lifted up to the hills: O where will my help come from? 121:2Your help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 121:3May he not let your foot be moved: no need of sleep has he who keeps you. 121:4See, the eyes of Israel's keeper will not be shut in sleep. 121:5The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. 121:6You will not be touched by the sun in the day, or by the moon at night. 121:7The Lord will keep you safe from all evil; he will take care of your soul. 121:8The Lord will keep watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time and for ever.
122:1<A Song of the going up. Of David.> I was glad because they said to me, We will go into the house of the Lord. 122:2At last our feet were inside your doors, O Jerusalem. 122:3O Jerusalem, you are like a town which is well joined together; 122:4To which the tribes went up, even the tribes of the Lord, for a witness to Israel, to give praise to the name of the Lord. 122:5For there seats for the judges were placed, even the rulers' seats of the line of David. 122:6O make prayers for the peace of Jerusalem; may they whose love is given to you do well. 122:7May peace be inside your walls, and wealth in your noble houses. 122:8Because of my brothers and friends, I will now say, Let peace be with you. 122:9Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will be working for your good.
123:1<A Song of the going up.> To you my eyes are lifted up, even to you whose seat is in the heavens. 123:2See! as the eyes of servants are turned to the hands of their masters, and the eyes of a servant-girl to her owner, so our eyes are waiting for the Lord our God, till he has mercy on us. 123:3Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us: for all men are looking down on us. 123:4For long enough have men of pride made sport of our soul.
124:1<A Song of the going up. Of David.> If it had not been the Lord who was on our side (let Israel now say); 124:2If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men came up against us; 124:3They would have made a meal of us while still living, in the heat of their wrath against us: 124:4We would have been covered by the waters; the streams would have gone over our soul; 124:5Yes, the waters of pride would have gone over our soul. 124:6Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be wounded by their teeth. 124:7Our soul has gone free like a bird out of the net of those who would take her: the net is broken, and we are free. 124:8Our help is in the name of the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
125:1<A Song of the going up.> Those whose hope is in the Lord are like the mountain of Zion, which may not be moved, but keeps its place for ever. 125:2As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people, from this time and for ever. 125:3For the rod of sinners will not be resting on the heritage of the upright; so that the upright may not put out their hands to evil. 125:4Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in heart. 125:5But as for such as are turned out of the straight way, the Lord will take them away with the workers of evil. Let peace be on Israel.
126:1<A Song of the going up.> When the Lord made a change in Zion's fate, we were like men in a dream. 126:2Then our mouths were full of laughing, and our tongues gave a glad cry; they said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them. 126:3The Lord has done great things for us; because of which we are glad. 126:4Let our fate be changed, O Lord, like the streams in the South. 126:5Those who put in seed with weeping will get in the grain with cries of joy. 126:6Though a man may go out weeping, taking his vessel of seed with him; he will come again in joy, with the corded stems of grain in his arms.
127:1<A Song of the going up. Of Solomon.> If the Lord is not helping the builders, then the building of a house is to no purpose: if the Lord does not keep the town, the watchman keeps his watch for nothing. 127:2It is of no use for you to get up early, and to go late to your rest, with the bread of sorrow for your food; for the Lord gives to his loved ones in sleep. 127:3See, sons are a heritage from the Lord; the fruit of the body is his reward. 127:4Like arrows in the hand of a man of war, are the children of the young. 127:5Happy is the man who has a good store of them; he will not be put to shame, but his cause will be supported by them against his haters.
128:1<A Song of the going up.> Happy is the worshipper of the Lord, who is walking in his ways. 128:2You will have the fruit of the work of your hands: happy will you be, and all will be well for you. 128:3Your wife will be like a fertile vine in the inmost parts of your house: your children will be like olive plants round your table. 128:4See! this is the blessing of the worshipper of the Lord. 128:5May the Lord send you blessing out of Zion: may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life. 128:6May you see your children's children. Peace be on Israel.
129:1<A Song of the going up.> Great have been my troubles from the time when I was young (let Israel now say); 129:2Great have been my troubles from the time when I was young, but my troubles have not overcome me. 129:3The ploughmen were ploughing on my back; long were the wounds they made. 129:4The Lord is true: the cords of the evil-doers are broken in two. 129:5Let all the haters of Zion be shamed and turned back. 129:6Let them be like the grass on the house-tops, which is dry before it comes to full growth. 129:7He who gets in the grain has no use for it; and they do not make bands of it for the grain-stems. 129:8And those who go by do not say, The blessing of the Lord be on you; we give you blessing in the name of the Lord.
130:1<A Song of the going up.> Out of the deep have I sent up my cry to you, O Lord. 130:2Lord, let my voice come before you: let your ears be awake to the voice of my prayer. 130:3O Jah, if you took note of every sin, who would go free? 130:4But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be feared. 130:5I am waiting for the Lord, my soul is waiting for him, and my hope is in his word. 130:6My soul is watching for the Lord more than those who are watching for the morning; yes, more than the watchers for the morning. 130:7O Israel, have hope in the Lord; for with the Lord is mercy and full salvation. 130:8And he will make Israel free from all his sins.
131:1<A Song of the going up. Of David.> Lord, there is no pride in my heart and my eyes are not lifted up; and I have not taken part in great undertakings, or in things over-hard for me. 131:2See, I have made my soul calm and quiet, like a child on its mother's breast; my soul is like a child on its mother's breast. 131:3O Israel, have hope in the Lord, from this time and for ever.
132:1<A Song of the going up.> Lord, give thought to David, and to all his troubles; 132:2How he made an oath to the Lord, and gave his word to the great God of Jacob, saying, 132:3Truly, I will not come into my house, or go to my bed, 132:4I will not give sleep to my eyes, or rest to my eyeballs, 132:5Till I have got a place for the Lord, a resting-place for the great God of Jacob. 132:6We had news of it at Ephrathah: we came to it in the fields of the wood. 132:7Let us go into his tent; let us give worship at his feet. 132:8Come back, O Lord, to your resting-place; you and the ark of your strength. 132:9Let your priests be clothed with righteousness; and let your saints give cries of joy. 132:10Because of your servant David, do not give up your king. 132:11The Lord gave a true oath to David, which he will not take back, saying, I will give your kingdom to the fruit of your body. 132:12If your children keep my word, and the teachings which I will give them, their children will be rulers of your kingdom for ever. 132:13For the Lord's heart is on Zion, desiring it for his resting-place. 132:14This is my rest for ever: here will I ever be; for this is my desire. 132:15My blessing will be on her food; and her poor will be full of bread. 132:16Her priests will be clothed with salvation; and her saints will give cries of joy. 132:17There I will make the horn of David fertile: I have made ready a light for my king. 132:18His haters will be clothed with shame; but I will make his crown shining.
133:1<A Song of the going up. Of David.> See how good and how pleasing it is for brothers to be living together in harmony! 133:2It is like oil of great price on the head, flowing down over the face, even Aaron's face: coming down to the edge of his robe; 133:3Like the dew of Hermon, which comes down on the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord gave orders for the blessing, even life for ever.
134:1<A Song of the going up.> Give praise to the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who take your places in the house of the Lord by night. 134:2Give praise to the Lord, lifting up your hands in his holy place. 134:3May the Lord, who made heaven and earth, send you blessing out of Zion,
135:1Let the Lord be praised. O you servants of the Lord, give praise to the name of the Lord. 135:2You who are in the house of the Lord, and in the open spaces of the house of our God, 135:3Give praise to Jah, for he is good: make melody to his name, for it is pleasing. 135:4For the Lord has taken Jacob for himself, and Israel for his property. 135:5I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is greater than all other gods. 135:6The Lord has done whatever was pleasing to him, in heaven, and on the earth, in the seas and in all the deep waters. 135:7He makes the mists go up from the ends of the earth; he makes thunder-flames for the rain; he sends out the winds from his store-houses. 135:8He put to death the first-fruits of Egypt, of man and of beast. 135:9He sent signs and wonders among you, O Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his servants. 135:10He overcame great nations, and put strong kings to death; 135:11Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan; 135:12And gave their land for a heritage, even for a heritage to Israel his people. 135:13O Lord, your name is eternal; and the memory of you will have no end. 135:14For the Lord will be judge of his people's cause; his feelings will be changed to his servants. 135:15The images of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. 135:16They have mouths, but no voice, they have eyes, but they do not see; 135:17They have ears, but no hearing; and there is no breath in their mouths. 135:18Those who make them are like them; and so is everyone who puts his hope in them. 135:19Give praise to the Lord, O children of Israel: give praise to the Lord, O sons of Aaron: 135:20Give praise to the Lord, O sons of Levi: let all the worshippers of the Lord give him praise. 135:21Praise be to the Lord out of Zion, even to the Lord whose house is in Jerusalem, Let the Lord be praised.
136:1O give praise to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy is unchanging for ever. 136:2O give praise to the God of gods: for his mercy is unchanging for ever. 136:3O give praise to the Lord of lords: for his mercy is unchanging for ever. 136:4To him who only does great wonders: for his mercy is unchanging for ever. 136:5To him who by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy is unchanging for ever. 136:6To him by whom the earth was stretched out over the waters: for his mercy is unchanging for ever. 136:7To him who made great lights: for his mercy is unchanging for ever. 136:8The sun to have rule by day: for his mercy is unchanging for ever. 136:9The moon and the stars to have rule by night: for his mercy is unchanging for ever. 136:10To him who put to death the first-fruits of Egypt: for his mercy is unchanging for ever: 136:11And took out Israel from among them: for his mercy is unchanging for ever: 136:12With a strong hand and an outstretched arm: for his mercy is unchanging for ever. 136:13To him who made a way through the Red Sea: for his mercy is unchanging for ever: 136:14And let Israel go through it: for his mercy is unchanging for ever: 136:15By him Pharaoh and his army were overturned in the Red Sea: for his mercy is unchanging for ever. 136:16To him who took his people through the waste land: for his mercy is unchanging for ever. 136:17To him who overcame great kings: for his mercy is unchanging for ever: 136:18And put noble kings to death: for his mercy is unchanging for ever: 136:19Sihon, king of the Amorites: for his mercy is unchanging for ever: 136:20And Og, king of Bashan: for his mercy is unchanging for ever: 136:21And gave their land to his people for a heritage: for his mercy is unchanging for ever. 136:22Even a heritage for his servant Israel: for his mercy is unchanging for ever. 136:23Who kept us in mind when we were in trouble: for his mercy is unchanging for ever. 136:24And has taken us out of the hands of our haters: for his mercy is unchanging for ever. 136:25Who gives food to all flesh: for his mercy is unchanging for ever. 136:26O give praise to the God of heaven: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.
137:1By the rivers of Babylon we were seated, weeping at the memory of Zion, 137:2Hanging our instruments of music on the trees by the waterside. 137:3For there those who had taken us prisoners made request for a song; and those who had taken away all we had gave us orders to be glad, saying, Give us one of the songs of Zion. 137:4How may we give the Lord's song in a strange land? 137:5If I keep not your memory, O Jerusalem, let not my right hand keep the memory of its art. 137:6If I let you go out of my thoughts, and if I do not put Jerusalem before my greatest joy, let my tongue be fixed to the roof of my mouth. 137:7O Lord, keep in mind against the children of Edom the day of Jerusalem; how they said, Let it be uncovered, uncovered even to its base. 137:8O daughter of Babylon, whose fate is destruction; happy is the man who does to you what you have done to us. 137:9Happy is the man who takes your little ones, crushing them against the rocks.
138:1<Of David.> I will give you praise with all my heart: I will make melody to you before the gods. 138:2I will give worship before your holy Temple, praising your name for your mercy and for your unchanging faith: for you have made your word greater than all your name. 138:3When my cry came to your ears you gave me an answer, and made me great with strength in my soul. 138:4All the kings of the earth will give you praise, O Lord, when the words of your mouth come to their ears. 138:5They will make songs about the ways of the Lord; for great is the glory of the Lord. 138:6Though the Lord is high, he sees those who are low; and he has knowledge from far off of those who are lifted up. 138:7Even when trouble is round me, you will give me life; your hand will be stretched out against the wrath of my haters, and your right hand will be my salvation. 138:8The Lord will make all things complete for me: O Lord, your mercy is eternal; do not give up the works of your hands.
139:1<To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David.> O Lord, you have knowledge of me, searching out all my secrets. 139:2You have knowledge when I am seated and when I get up, you see my thoughts from far away. 139:3You keep watch over my steps and my sleep, and have knowledge of all my ways. 139:4For there is not a word on my tongue which is not clear to you, O Lord. 139:5I am shut in by you on every side, and you have put your hand on me. 139:6Such knowledge is a wonder greater than my powers; it is so high that I may not come near it. 139:7Where may I go from your spirit? how may I go in flight from you? 139:8If I go up to heaven, you are there: or if I make my bed in the underworld, you are there. 139:9If I take the wings of the morning, and go to the farthest parts of the sea; 139:10Even there will I be guided by your hand, and your right hand will keep me. 139:11If I say, Only let me be covered by the dark, and the light about me be night; 139:12Even the dark is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day: for dark and light are the same to you. 139:13My flesh was made by you, and my parts joined together in my mother's body. 139:14I will give you praise, for I am strangely and delicately formed; your works are great wonders, and of this my soul is fully conscious. 139:15My frame was not unseen by you when I was made secretly, and strangely formed in the lowest parts of the earth. 139:16Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book all my days were recorded, even those which were purposed before they had come into being. 139:17How dear are your thoughts to me, O God! how great is the number of them! 139:18If I made up their number, it would be more than the grains of sand; when I am awake, I am still with you. 139:19If only you would put the sinners to death, O God; go far from me, you men of blood. 139:20For they go against you with evil designs, and your haters make sport of your name. 139:21Are not your haters hated by me, O Lord? are not those who are lifted up against you a cause of grief to me? 139:22My hate for them is complete; my thoughts of them are as if they were making war on me. 139:23O God, let the secrets of my heart be uncovered, and let my wandering thoughts be tested: 139:24See if there is any way of sorrow in me, and be my guide in the eternal way.