Psalms 120

1 “A psalm of steps.” In my distress I called upon the LORD, And he answered me.

When I had troubles, I called out to Yahweh and he answered me.

2 O LORD! deliver me from lying lips, From the deceitful tongue!

[I prayed], “Yahweh, rescue/save me from people [SYN, MTY] who lie to me and [try to] deceive me!”

3 What profit to thee, Or what advantage to thee, is the false tongue?

You people who lie to me, [I will tell you] [RHQ] what [God] will do to you and what he will do to punish you.

4 It is like the sharp arrows of the mighty man; Like coals of the juniper.

He will shoot sharp arrows at you like soldiers do, and he will [burn you with] red-hot coals from [the wood of] a broom tree.

5 Alas for me, that I sojourn in Mesech, That I dwell in the tents of Kedar!

It is terrible for me, living among cruel/savage [DOU] people [like those who live] in Meshech [region] and Kedar [region].

6 Too long have I dwelt With them that hate peace!

I have lived for a long time among people who hate [to live with others] peacefully.

7 I am for peace; yet, when I speak for it, They are for war.

Every time I talk about living together peacefully, they talk about starting a war.