Psalm 122:4-9

4 The tribes go up there, the tribes who belong to the Lord. to praise the Lord at Jerusalem.

5 There the descendants of David set their thrones to judge the people.

6 Pray for peace in Jerusalem: "May those who love her be safe.

7 May there be peace within her walls and safety within her strong towers."

8 To help my relatives and friends, I say, "Let Jerusalem have peace."

9 For the sake of the Temple of the Lord our God, I wish good for her. A song for going up to worship.

Psalm 122:4-9 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.