1 A Canticle in steps. When troubled, I cried out to the Lord, and he heard me. 2 O Lord, free my soul from lips of iniquity and from the deceitful tongue. 3 What will be given to you, or what will be added to you, for a deceitful tongue?: 4 the sharp arrows of the powerful, along with the burning coals of desolation. 5 Woe to me, for my sojourning has been prolonged. I have lived with the inhabitants of Kedar. 6 My soul has long been a sojourner. 7 With those who hated peace, I was peaceful. When I spoke to them, they fought against me without cause.
Psalms · Catholic Public Domain Version
Psalm 119 (120) Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · Psalm 120 · About the recordings
Notes on this text (4)
- Greek and Latin Bibles number most Psalms one lower than Hebrew and English Bibles.
- Psalms follow the Greek/Latin numbering, with the psalm titles counted as verse 1 (as in the Vulgate).
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
Cross references (7)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info. References use English (Hebrew-based) verse numbers; links open the passage in CPDV.
- 1 Psalm 18:6; Jonah 2:2; Psalm 118:5; Hebrews 5:7; Psalm 50:15
- 2 Psalm 140:1–3; Proverbs 12:22; Psalm 109:1–2; Psalm 52:2–4; Psalm 35:11
- 3 Job 27:8; Matthew 16:26; Romans 6:21
- 4 James 3:5–8; Proverbs 19:9; Proverbs 18:21; Psalm 45:5; Proverbs 19:5
- 5 Genesis 10:2; Genesis 25:13; Ezekiel 27:13; Song of Songs 1:5; Isaiah 60:6–7
- 6 Matthew 10:16; Psalm 57:4; Ezekiel 2:6; Matthew 10:36; 1 Samuel 20:30–33
- 7 Matthew 5:9; Psalm 109:4; Psalm 34:14; Hebrews 12:14; Romans 12:18
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations). Verse numbers below follow the Hebrew/English numbering: 120.
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
From its commencement, dearly beloved, doth this great Psalm exhort us unto bliss, which there is no one who desireth not....And therefore this is the lesson which he teacheth, who saith, "Blessed are those that are undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord" (ver. 1).
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)
For we had determined among ourselves not to let it get abroad to any; although Thou hadst given to us, ascending from the valley of tears, and singing the song of degrees, "sharp arrows," and destroying coals, against the "deceitful tongue," which in giving counsel opposes, and in showing love consumes, as it is wont to do with its food.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)