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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 ascents. In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He answered me.

2Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and a deceitful tongue.

3What will He do to you, and what will be added to you, O deceitful tongue?

4Sharp arrows will come from the warrior, with burning coals of the broom tree!

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

6Too long have I dwelt among those who hate peace.

7I am in favor of peace; but when I speak, they want war.

Psalm 121

1A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?

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

3He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.

4Behold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

5The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is the shade on your right hand.

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

7The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul.

8The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.

Psalm 122

1A song of ascents. Of David. I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”

2Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem.

3Jerusalem is built up as a city united together,

4where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as a testimony for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD.

5For there the thrones of judgment stand, the thrones of the house of David.

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

7May there be peace within your walls, and prosperity inside your fortresses.”

8For the sake of my brothers 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, the One enthroned in heaven.

2As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the LORD our God until He shows us mercy.

3Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy, for we have endured much contempt.

4We have endured much scorn from the arrogant, much contempt from the proud.

Psalm 124

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

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

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

4then the floods would have engulfed us, then the torrent would have overwhelmed us,

5then the raging waters would have swept us away.

6Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth.

7We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler; the net is torn, and we have slipped away.

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. It cannot be moved; it abides forever.

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

3For the scepter of the wicked will not rest upon the land allotted to the righteous, so that the righteous will not put forth their hands to injustice.

4Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to the upright in heart.

5But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel.

Psalm 126

1A song of ascents. When the LORD restored the captives of Zion, we were like dreamers.

2Then 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.”

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

4Restore our captives, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.

5Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.

6He who goes out weeping, bearing a trail of seed, will surely return with shouts of joy, carrying sheaves of grain.

Psalm 127

1A 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.

2In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat— for He gives sleep to His beloved.

3Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.

4Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children born in one’s youth.

5Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. He will not be put to shame when he confronts the enemies at the gate.

Berean Standard Bible (BSB). The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain.