1 A song of degrees. I called vnto the Lord in my trouble, and hee heard me. 2 Deliuer my soule, O Lord, from lying lippes, and from a deceitfull tongue. 3 What doeth thy deceitfull tongue bring vnto thee? or what doeth it auaile thee? 4 It is as the sharpe arrowes of a mightie man, and as the coales of iuniper. 5 Woe is to me that I remaine in Meschech, and dwell in the tentes of Kedar. 6 My soule hath too long dwelt with him that hateth peace. 7 I seeke peace, and when I speake thereof, they are bent to warre.
Psalm 120 Geneva Bible (1599)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (2)
- Greek and Latin Bibles number most Psalms one lower than Hebrew and English Bibles.
- Original 16th-century spelling.
Cross references (7)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 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).
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)