Psalms 122

1 A song of ascents, of David. I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of Yahweh.”

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

2 Jerusalem, our feet are standing within your gates!

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

3 Jerusalem, built as a city carefully planned!

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

4 The tribes go up to Jerusalem—the tribes of Yahweh— as a testimony for Israel, to give thanks to the name of Yahweh.

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 There thrones of judgment were set, 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 for the peace of Jerusalem! “May those who love you have peace.

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 the walls that defend you, and may they have peace 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 For the sake of my brothers and my friends I will say, “May there be peace within you.”

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

9 For the sake of the house of Yahweh our God, I will seek good 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].