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  1. Wed: 2 Kings 22-25
  2. Thu: Hebrews 10-11
  3. Fri: Hosea 8-10
Saturday · Week 34
The Books of Poetry & Wisdom

Psalms 120-127

Week 34 · about 6 min
  1. Sun: Numbers 7-10
  2. Mon: John 7-8
  3. Tue: Jeremiah 21-22

Psalms 120-134 are the Songs of Degrees, sung by pilgrims on their way up to Jerusalem.

Songs for the Road to Jerusalem

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2 (KJV)

Each of these psalms is titled “A Song of degrees.” Pilgrims sang them on the climb to Jerusalem for the feasts. Psalm 120 starts far from home among people who love war. By Psalm 134 they’re in the temple at night, blessing God. In Psalm 121 the hills along the road had robbers and pagan shrines, so the singer looks past the hills to the one who made them, who “shall neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalm 126 promises, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” Psalm 127 says, “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it.”

Reflect: What are you building that you need to hand over to God?

Psalm 120

1A Song of degrees. In my trouble I called unto Jehovah, and he answered me.

2Jehovah, deliver my soul from the lying lip, from the deceitful tongue.

3What shall be given unto thee, what shall be added unto thee, thou deceitful tongue?

4Sharp arrows of a mighty one, with burning coals of broom-wood.

5Woe is me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!

6My soul hath long dwelt with them that hate peace.

7I am for peace; but when I speak, *they* are for war.

Psalm 121

1A Song of degrees. I lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: whence shall my help come?

2My help cometh from Jehovah, who made the heavens and the earth.

3He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4Behold, he that keepeth Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

5Jehovah is thy keeper, Jehovah is thy shade upon thy right hand;

6The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7Jehovah will keep thee from all evil; he will keep thy soul.

8Jehovah will keep thy going out and thy coming in, from henceforth and for evermore.

Psalm 122

1A Song of degrees. Of David. I rejoiced when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of Jehovah.

2Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.

3Jerusalem, which art built as a city that is compact together,

4Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of Jah, a testimony to Israel, to give thanks unto the name of Jehovah.

5For there are set thrones for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.

6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

7Peace be within thy bulwarks, prosperity within thy palaces.

8For my brethren and companions' sakes I will say, Peace be within thee!

9Because of the house of Jehovah our God I will seek thy good.

Psalm 123

1A Song of degrees. Unto thee do I lift up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.

2Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are directed to Jehovah our God, until he be gracious unto us.

3Be gracious unto us, O Jehovah, be gracious unto us; for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

4Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, with the contempt of the proud.

Psalm 124

1A Song of degrees. Of David. If it had not been Jehovah who was for us -- oh let Israel say --

2If it had not been Jehovah who was for us, when men rose up against us,

3Then they had swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us;

4Then the waters had overwhelmed us, a torrent had gone over our soul;

5Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.

6Blessed be Jehovah, who gave us not up a prey to their teeth!

7Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we have escaped.

8Our help is in the name of Jehovah, the maker of heavens and earth.

Psalm 125

1A Song of degrees. They that confide in Jehovah are as mount Zion, which cannot be moved; it abideth for ever.

2Jerusalem! -- mountains are round about her, and Jehovah is round about his people, from henceforth and for evermore.

3For the sceptre of wickedness shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.

4Do good, O Jehovah, unto the good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.

5But as for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, Jehovah will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel!

Psalm 126

1A Song of degrees. When Jehovah turned the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

2Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing: then said they among the nations, Jehovah hath done great things for them.

3Jehovah hath done great things for us; and we are joyful.

4Turn our captivity, O Jehovah, as the streams in the south.

5They that sow in tears shall reap with rejoicing:

6He goeth forth and weepeth, bearing seed for scattering; he cometh again with rejoicing, bearing his sheaves.

Psalm 127

1A Song of degrees. Of Solomon. Unless Jehovah build the house, in vain do its builders labour in it; unless Jehovah keep the city, the keeper watcheth in vain:

2It is vain for you to rise up early, to lie down late, to eat the bread of sorrows: so to his beloved one he giveth sleep.

3Lo, children are an inheritance from Jehovah, and the fruit of the womb a reward.

4As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth.

5Happy is the man that hath filled his quiver with them. They shall not be ashamed when they speak with enemies in the gate.

Darby Translation (Darby). Public domain.