Psalms 120

1 A song of ascents. In distress I cried to the Lord, and he answered me.

A SONG OF THE ASCENTS. I have called to YHWH in my distress, And He answers me.

2 ‘Deliver me, Lord, from the lip that is false and the tongue that is crafty.’

O YHWH, deliver my soul from a lying lip, From a deceitful tongue!

3 What shall he give to you, you tongue that is crafty? What yet shall he give to you?

What does He give to you? And what does He add to you? O deceitful tongue!

4 Arrows of warrior, sharpened, with glowing broom coals together.

Sharp arrows of a mighty one, with coals of broom trees.

5 Woe is me that I sojourn in Meshech, that I live by the tents of Kedar.

Woe to me, for I have inhabited Mesech, I have dwelt with tents of Kedar.

6 Already too long have I dwelt among those who hate peace.

My soul has dwelt too much with him who is hating peace.

7 I am for peace: but when I speak of it, they are for war.

I—peace, and when I speak they [are] for war!