1 [[A Song H7892 of degrees.]] H4609 In my distress H6869 I cried H7121 unto the LORD, H3068 and he heard H6030 me.
And said, H559 I cried H7121 by reason of mine affliction H6869 unto the LORD, H3068 and he heard H6030 me; out of the belly H990 of hell H7585 cried H7768 I, and thou heardest H8085 my voice. H6963
In my distress H6862 I called H7121 upon the LORD, H3068 and cried H7768 unto my God: H430 he heard H8085 my voice H6963 out of his temple, H1964 and my cry H7775 came H935 before H6440 him, even into his ears. H241
Who G3739 in G1722 the days G2250 of his G846 flesh, G4561 when he had offered up G4374 prayers G1162 and G5037 G2532 supplications G2428 with G3326 strong G2478 crying G2906 and G2532 tears G1144 unto G4314 him that was able G1410 to save G4982 him G846 from G1537 death, G2288 and G2532 was heard G1522 in that G575 he feared; G2124
[[A Song H7892 of degrees H4609 for Solomon.]] H8010 Except the LORD H3068 build H1129 the house, H1004 they labour H5998 in vain H7723 that build H1129 it: except the LORD H3068 keep H8104 the city, H5892 the watchman H8104 waketh H8245 but in vain. H7723
And G2532 being G1096 in G1722 an agony G74 he prayed G4336 more earnestly: G1617 and G1161 his G846 sweat G2402 was G1096 as it were G5616 great drops G2361 of blood G129 falling down G2597 to G1909 the ground. G1093
And Hezekiah H2396 received H3947 the letter H5612 from the hand H3027 of the messengers, H4397 and read H7121 it: and Hezekiah H2396 went up H5927 unto the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and spread H6566 it before H6440 the LORD. H3068 And Hezekiah H2396 prayed H6419 unto the LORD, H3068 saying, H559 O LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 God H430 of Israel, H3478 that dwellest H3427 between the cherubims, H3742 thou art the God, H430 even thou alone, of all the kingdoms H4467 of the earth: H776 thou hast made H6213 heaven H8064 and earth. H776 Incline H5186 thine ear, H241 O LORD, H3068 and hear; H8085 open H6491 thine eyes, H5869 O LORD, H3068 and see: H7200 and hear H8085 all the words H1697 of Sennacherib, H5576 which hath sent H7971 to reproach H2778 the living H2416 God. H430 Of a truth, H551 LORD, H3068 the kings H4428 of Assyria H804 have laid waste H2717 all the nations, H776 and their countries, H776 And have cast H5414 their gods H430 into the fire: H784 for they were no gods, H430 but the work H4639 of men's H120 hands, H3027 wood H6086 and stone: H68 therefore they have destroyed H6 them. Now therefore, O LORD H3068 our God, H430 save H3467 us from his hand, H3027 that all the kingdoms H4467 of the earth H776 may know H3045 that thou art the LORD, H3068 even thou only.
And they said H559 unto him, Thus saith H559 Hezekiah, H2396 This day H3117 is a day H3117 of trouble, H6869 and of rebuke, H8433 and of blasphemy: H5007 for the children H1121 are come H935 to the birth, H4866 and there is not strength H3581 to bring forth. H3205 It may be the LORD H3068 thy God H430 will hear H8085 the words H1697 of Rabshakeh, H7262 whom the king H4428 of Assyria H804 his master H113 hath sent H7971 to reproach H2778 the living H2416 God, H430 and will reprove H3198 the words H1697 which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hath heard: H8085 wherefore lift up H5375 thy prayer H8605 for the remnant H7611 that is left. H4672
[[A Song H7892 of degrees.]] H4609 LORD, H3068 remember H2142 David, H1732 and all his afflictions: H6031
[[A Song H7892 of degrees.]] H4609 Many a time H7227 have they afflicted H6887 me from my youth, H5271 may Israel H3478 now say: H559
[[A Song H7892 of degrees.]] H4609 They that trust H982 in the LORD H3068 shall be as mount H2022 Zion, H6726 which cannot be removed, H4131 but abideth H3427 for ever. H5769
[[A Song H7892 of degrees H4609 of David.]] H1732 I was glad H8055 when they said H559 unto me, Let us go H3212 into the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068
The sorrows H2256 of death H4194 compassed H661 me, and the pains H4712 of hell H7585 gat hold H4672 upon me: I found H4672 trouble H6869 and sorrow. H3015 Then called H7121 I upon the name H8034 of the LORD; H3068 O LORD, H3068 I beseech H577 thee, deliver H4422 my soul. H5315
And call H7121 upon me in the day H3117 of trouble: H6869 I will deliver H2502 thee, and thou shalt glorify H3513 me.
LORD, H3068 by thy favour H7522 thou hast made my mountain H2042 to stand H5975 strong: H5797 thou didst hide H5641 thy face, H6440 and I was troubled. H926 I cried H7121 to thee, O LORD; H3068 and unto the LORD H3068 I made supplication. H2603
Then Hezekiah H2396 turned H5437 his face H6440 toward the wall, H7023 and prayed H6419 unto the LORD, H3068 And said, H559 Remember H2142 now, O LORD, H3068 I beseech H577 thee, how I have walked H1980 before H6440 thee in truth H571 and with a perfect H8003 heart, H3820 and have done H6213 that which is good H2896 in thy sight. H5869 And Hezekiah H2396 wept H1058 H1065 sore. H1419 Then came the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 to Isaiah, H3470 saying, H559 Go, H1980 and say H559 to Hezekiah, H2396 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 the God H430 of David H1732 thy father, H1 I have heard H8085 thy prayer, H8605 I have seen H7200 thy tears: H1832 behold, I will add H3254 unto thy days H3117 fifteen H2568 H6240 years. H8141
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 120
Commentary on Psalms 120 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 120
Ps 120:1-7. This is the first of fifteen Psalms (Psalms 120-134) entitled "A Song of Degrees" (Ps 121:1—literally, "A song for the degrees"), or ascents. It seems most probable they were designed for the use of the people when going up (compare 1Ki 12:27, 28) to Jerusalem on the festival occasions (De 16:16), three times a year. David appears as the author of four, Solomon of one (Ps 127:1), and the other ten are anonymous, probably composed after the captivity. In this Psalm the writer acknowledges God's mercy, prays for relief from a malicious foe, whose punishment he anticipates, and then repeats his complaint.
2, 3. Slander and deceit charged on his foes implies his innocence.
tongue—as in Ps 52:2, 4.
4. Sharp arrows of the mighty—destructive inflictions.
coals of juniper—which retain heat long. This verse may be read as a description of the wicked, but better as their punishment, in reply to the question of Ps 120:3.
5. A residence in these remote lands pictures his miserable condition.
6, 7. While those who surrounded him were maliciously hostile, he was disposed to peace. This Psalm may well begin such a series as this, as a contrast to the promised joys of God's worship.