Psalms 120

1 A Song of Degrees. In mine affliction I cried to the Lord, and he listened to me.

A song for pilgrims going up to Jerusalem. I called out to the Lord for help in all my troubles, and he answered me.

2 Deliver my soul, O Lord, from unjust lips, and from a deceitful tongue.

Lord, please save me from liars and cheats!

3 What should be given to you, and what should be added to you, for [your] crafty tongue?

What will the Lord do to you, you liars? How will he punish you?

4 Sharpened weapons of the mighty, with coals of the desert.

With the sharp arrows of a warrior and burning coals made from a broom tree.

5 Woe is me, that my sojourning is prolonged; I have tabernacled among the tents of Kedar.

I'm sorry for myself, because I live as a foreigner in Meshech, or among the tent-dwellers of Kedar.

6 My soul has long been a sojourner;

I have lived for far too long among people who hate peace.

7 I was peaceful among them that hated peace; when I spoke to them, they warred against me without a cause.

I want peace, but when I talk of peace, they want war.