Psalm 120:1

Psalm 120

A pilgrimage song.

1 I cried out to the LORD when I was in trouble (and he answered me):

Psalm 120:1 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 120:1

In my distress I cried unto the Lord
Being at a distance from his own country, or, however, from the house of God; persecuted by men, under the lash of their tongues; reproached, abused, and belied by them: in this his case and circumstances, he betook himself by prayer to the Lord, and importuned help and deliverance of him, knowing that none could help him as he; see ( Psalms 18:6 ) ;

and he heard me;
answered him, and delivered him. The petition he put up follows, which shows his case, and his particular distress.

Psalm 120:1 In-Context

1 I cried out to the LORD when I was in trouble (and he answered me):

2 "LORD, deliver me from lying lips and a dishonest tongue!"

3 What more will be given to you, what more will be done to you, you dishonest tongue?

4 Just this: a warrior's sharpened arrows, coupled with burning coals from a wood fire!

5 Oh, I'm doomed because I have been an immigrant in Meshech, because I've made my home among Kedar's tents.

Footnotes

• [a] Or song of ascents or song of going up (that is, to Jerusalem); cf Ps 122:4. The heading is found in every psalm from Ps 120 to Ps 134.