Psalms 122

1 A song for pilgrims going up to Jerusalem. A psalm of David. I was so happy when they said to me, “Let's go the house of the Lord.”

I was glad/happy when people said to me, “We should go to the temple of Yahweh [in Jerusalem]!”

2 Now we're standing inside your gates, Jerusalem!

And now we are here, standing inside the gates/city of [APO] Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem is built as a city where people can be together.

Jerusalem is a city that has been rebuilt, with the result that people can gather together in it.

4 All the tribes—the tribes of the Lord—go up there, following the command given to Israel to give thanks to the Lord.

We [people of the] tribes of Israel who belong to Yahweh can now go up there as Yahweh commanded that we should do, and we can thank him.

5 This is where the thrones are placed, where judgment is given, the thrones of the house of David.

There the kings of Israel who were descendants of [King] David sit on their thrones and decide cases [fairly when the people have disputes].

6 Pray that Jerusalem may be at peace. May everyone who loves Jerusalem be kept safe.

Pray that there will be peace in Jerusalem; I desire that those who love Jerusalem will (prosper/live peacefully).

7 May there be peace within your walls, and safety within your fortresses.

I desire that there will be peace inside the walls of the city and that [people who are] inside the palaces will be safe.

8 On behalf of my family and friends, I will now say, “May you be at peace.”

For the sake of my relatives and friends, I say, “My desire is that that inside Jerusalem [people will live] peacefully.”

9 On behalf of the house of the Lord our God, I pray that everything goes well for you.

And because I love the temple of Yahweh our God, I pray that things will go well for the people who live [in Jerusalem].