USB ~ Psalms 122

A Pilgrim’s Prayer for Jerusalem

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

2 And now our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem, built as a city, walled round about.† b

4 There the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, As it was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. c

5 There are the thrones of justice, the thrones of the house of David.

6 For the peace of Jerusalem pray: “May those who love you prosper!

7 May peace be within your ramparts, prosperity within your towers.” d

8 For the sake of my brothers and friends I say, “Peace be with you.” e

9 For the sake of the house of the LORD, our God, I pray for your good.

Footnotes

†. Psalm 122 A song of Zion, sung by pilgrims obeying the law to visit Jerusalem three times on a journey. The singer anticipates joining the procession into the city (Ps 122:1-3). Jerusalem is a place of encounter, where the people praise God (Ps 122:4) and hear the divine justice mediated by the king (Ps 122:5). The very buildings bespeak God’s power (cf. Ps 48:13-15). May the grace of this place transform the people’s lives (Ps 122:6-9)!

†. 122:3 Walled round about: lit., “which is joined to it,” probably referring both to the density of the buildings and to the dense population.

122:1 Ps 43:3-4; 84:2-5.
122:3 Ps 48:13-14.
122:4 Dt 16:16.
122:7 Ps 128:5.
122:8 Jn 20:19ff.