Psalms 122:1-8

1 I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the Lord's house."
2 And now we are here, standing inside the gates of Jerusalem!
3 Jerusalem is a city restored in beautiful order and harmony.
4 This is where the tribes come, the tribes of Israel, to give thanks to the Lord according to his command.
5 Here the kings of Israel sat to judge their people.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you prosper.
7 May there be peace inside your walls and safety in your palaces."
8 For the sake of my relatives and friends I say to Jerusalem, "Peace be with you!"

Psalms 122:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 122

\\<>\\. This is the first of the songs of degrees that bears the name of David: and Kimchi thinks they only were written by him which have his name to them; though he, Abendana, and others, are of opinion that this psalm was composed with a view to the captives in Babylon; who are here represented, and are represented as rejoicing at their going up to Jerusalem, to the solemn feasts there. The inscription in the Syriac version is, ``a "psalm" of David, one of the psalms of ascent, when Cyrus commanded the captivity to go up; spiritually, a promise of good things.'' It seems to be designed for the use of the Israelites, and to be sung by them when they went up to the feasts, three times a year. Some say {a} they sung this by the way, when they carried the firstfruits to Jerusalem. {a} Weemse's Christ. Synagog. l. 1. c. 6. s. 4. p. 144.

Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.