Psalms: The Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120–134)
Scripture: Berean Standard Bible
Psalm 120
A song of ascents.
In my distress I cried to the LORD,and he answered me.Deliver my soul, O LORD,from lying lips and a deceitful tongue.
What will he do to you,and what will be added to you,O deceitful tongue?Sharp arrows will come from the warrior,with burning coals of the broom tree!
Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech,that I live among the tents of Kedar!Too long have I dweltamong those who hate peace.I am in favor of peace;but when I speak, they want war.
Psalm 121
A song of ascents.
I lift up my eyes to the hills.From where does my help come?My help comes from the LORD,the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip;your Protector will not slumber.Behold, the Protector of Israelwill neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper;the LORD is the shade on your right hand.The sun will not strike you by day,nor the moon by night.
The LORD will guard you from all evil;he will preserve your soul.The LORD will watch over your coming and going,both now and forevermore.
Psalm 122
A song of ascents. Of David.
I was glad when they said to me,“Let us go to the house of the LORD.”Our feet are standing in your gates,O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is built upas a city united together,where the tribes go up,the tribes of the LORD,as a testimony for Israel,to give thanks to the name of the LORD.For there the thrones of judgment stand,the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:“May those who love you prosper.May there be peace within your walls,and prosperity inside your fortresses.”For the sake of my brothers and friends,I will say, “Peace be within you.”For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,I will seek your prosperity.
Psalm 123
A song of ascents.
I lift up my eyes to you,the One enthroned in heaven.As the eyes of servantslook to the hand of their master,as the eyes of a maidservantlook to the hand of her mistress,so our eyes are on the LORD our Goduntil he shows us mercy.
Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy,for we have endured much contempt.We have endured much scorn from the arrogant,much contempt from the proud.
Psalm 124
A song of ascents. Of David.
If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel now declare—if the LORD had not been on our sidewhen men attacked us,when their anger flared against us,then they would have swallowed us alive,then the floods would have engulfed us,then the torrent would have overwhelmed us,then the raging waterswould have swept us away.
Blessed be the LORD,who has not given us as prey to their teeth.We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler;the net is torn, and we have slipped away.Our help is in the name of the LORD,the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 125
A song of ascents.
Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion.It cannot be moved; it abides forever.As the mountains surround Jerusalem,so the LORD surrounds his people,both now and forevermore.
For the scepter of the wicked will not restupon the land allotted to the righteous,so that the righteous will not put forththeir hands to injustice.
Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,and to the upright in heart.But those who turn to crooked waysthe LORD will banish with the evildoers.
Peace be upon Israel.
Psalm 126
A song of ascents.
When the LORD restored the captives of Zion,we were like dreamers.Then our mouths were filled with laughter,our tongues with shouts of joy.Then it was said among the nations,“The LORD has done great things for them.”The LORD has done great things for us;we are filled with joy.
Restore our captives, O LORD,like streams in the Negev.Those who sow in tearswill reap with shouts of joy.He who goes out weeping,bearing a trail of seed,will surely return with shouts of joy,carrying sheaves of grain.
Psalm 127
A song of ascents. Of Solomon.
Unless the LORD builds the house,its builders labor in vain;unless the LORD protects the city,its watchmen stand guard in vain.In vain you rise earlyand stay up late,toiling for bread to eat—for he gives sleep to his beloved.
Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD,and the fruit of the womb is his reward.Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,so are children born in one’s youth.Blessed is the manwhose quiver is full of them.He will not be put to shamewhen he confronts the enemies at the gate.
Psalm 128
A song of ascents.
Blessed are all who fear the LORD,who walk in his ways!For when you eat the fruit of your labor,blessings and prosperity will be yours.Your wife will be like a fruitful vineflourishing within your house,your sons like olive shootssitting around your table.In this way indeed shall blessing cometo the man who fears the LORD.
May the LORD bless you from Zion,that you may see the prosperity of Jerusalemall the days of your life,that you may seeyour children’s children.
Peace be upon Israel!
Psalm 129
A song of ascents.
Many a time they have persecuted me from my youth—let Israel now declare—many a time they have persecuted me from my youth,but they have not prevailed against me.The plowmen plowed over my back;they made their furrows long.The LORD is righteous;he has cut me from the cords of the wicked.
May all who hate Zionbe turned back in shame.May they be like grass on the rooftops,which withers before it can grow,unable to fill the hands of the reaper,or the arms of the binder of sheaves.May none who pass by say to them,“The blessing of the LORD be on you;we bless you in the name of the LORD.”
Psalm 130
A song of ascents.
Out of the depthsI cry to you, O LORD!O Lord, hear my voice;let your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy.
If you, O LORD, kept track of iniquities,then who, O Lord, could stand?But with you there is forgiveness,so that you may be feared.
I wait for the LORD; my soul does wait,and in his word I put my hope.My soul waits for the Lordmore than watchmen wait for the morning—more than watchmen wait for the morning.
O Israel, put your hope in the LORD,for with the LORD is loving devotion,and with him is redemption in abundance.And he will redeem Israelfrom all iniquity.
Psalm 131
A song of ascents. Of David.
My heart is not proud, O LORD,my eyes are not haughty.I do not aspire to great thingsor matters too lofty for me.Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul;like a weaned child with his mother,like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel, put your hope in the LORD,both now and forevermore.
Psalm 132
A song of ascents.
O LORD, remember on behalf of Davidall the hardships he endured,how he swore an oath to the LORD,and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:“I will not enter my houseor get into my bed,I will not give sleep to my eyesor slumber to my eyelids,until I find a place for the LORD,a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
We heard that the ark was in Ephrathah;we found it in the fields of Jaar.Let us go to his dwelling place;let us worship at his footstool.Arise, O LORD, to your resting place,you and the ark of your strength.May your priests be clothed with righteousness,and your saints shout for joy.For the sake of your servant David,do not reject your anointed one.
The LORD swore an oath to David,a promise he will not revoke:“One of your descendantsI will place on your throne.If your sons keep my covenantand the testimony I will teach them,then their sons will also sit on your throneforever and ever.”
For the LORD has chosen Zion;he has desired it for his home:“This is my resting place forever and ever;here I will dwell, for I have desired this home.I will bless her with abundant provisions;I will satisfy her poor with bread.I will clothe her priests with salvation,and her saints will sing out in joy.There I will make a horn grow for David;I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one.I will clothe his enemies with shame,but the crown upon him will gleam.”
Psalm 133
A song of ascents. Of David.
Behold, how good and pleasant it iswhen brothers live together in harmony!It is like fine oil on the head,running down on the beard,running down Aaron’s beardover the collar of his robes.It is like the dew of Hermonfalling on the mountains of Zion.For there the LORD has bestowed the blessingof life forevermore.
Psalm 134
A song of ascents.
Come, bless the LORD,all you servants of the LORDwho serve by nightin the house of the LORD!Lift up your hands to the sanctuaryand bless the LORD!
May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth,bless you from Zion.