the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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King James Version
Psalms 120:7
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- InternationalParallel Translations
I search for peace; but when I speak of peace, they want war!
I am [for] peace: But when I speak, they are for war.
When I talk peace, they want war.
I am committed to peace, but when I speak, they want to make war.
I [am] for peace: but when I speak, they [are] for war.
I am for peace, But when I speak, they are for war.
I am for peace, but when I speak, They are for war.
I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war!
whanne Y spak to hem, thei ayenseiden me with outen cause.
I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
I am in favor of peace; but when I speak, they want war.
I am in favor of peace, but when I speak of it, all they want is war.
I am for peace: But when I speak, they are for war.
I am for peace: but when I say so, they are for war.
I am all for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
I [am for] peace; but when I speak, *they* [are] for war.
I ask for peace, but they want war.
I am all peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for warre.
I am for peace. But when I speak, they are for war.
I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
I seeke peace, and when I speake thereof, they are bent to warre.
I am for peace; but when I speak they fight with me.
When I speak of peace, they are for war.
I, am for peace, and verily I speak, They, are for war!
(119-7) With them that hated peace I was peaceable: when I spoke to them they fought against me without cause.
I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war!
I [am a man] of peace: but because I do speake therof, they [prepare] them selues to battayle.
I was peaceable among them that hated peace; when I spoke to them, they warred against me without a cause.
I am for peace; but when I speak,they are for war.
I am for shalom, But when I speak, they are for war.
I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.
I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
I [am] peace, and when I speak they [are] for war!
I laboured for peace, but when I spake therof, they made them to batayll.
I am for peace, but when I speak, They are for war.
I am for peace; But when I speak, they are for war.
I am for peace, but when I speak, They are for war.
I am for peace, but when I speak,They are for war.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
for peace: or, a man of peace, Psalms 34:14, Psalms 35:20, Psalms 55:20, 2 Samuel 20:19, Matthew 5:9, Romans 12:18, Ephesians 2:14-17, Hebrews 12:14
when: 1 Samuel 24:9-11, 1 Samuel 26:2-4
Reciprocal: Genesis 13:9 - if thou wilt Numbers 20:20 - Thou shalt Deuteronomy 2:32 - General Deuteronomy 20:11 - tributaries Judges 11:14 - again unto Psalms 68:30 - delight Psalms 140:2 - continually Micah 2:8 - securely 1 Peter 3:11 - seek
Gill's Notes on the Bible
I [am for] peace,.... Am wholly peace; a man of peace, as Aben Ezra; of a peaceable disposition, devoted to peace; love it, seek and pursue it, as every good man does, who is called to it, and in whose heart it rules: such follow peace with all men, and the things which make for it; and, as much as in them lies, endeavour to live peaceably with all;
but when I speak, they [are] for war; make a motion for peace, and propose the terms of it, they declare against it, and for war: or when he spoke of the things of God, and of his experience of them, of the word of God, and of the truths of it, and of what he believed,
Psalms 116:10; and especially when he gave good counsel and advice to them, and reproved them for their sins, they could not bear it; but hated him for it, and proclaimed war against him; and could not behave peaceably to him in any degree, but became his avowed, sworn, and implacable enemies. The Targum is,
"when I prayed;''
either prayed to God, that they did not like; or prayed for peace with them, that they would not grant; but became more imbittered against him.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
I am for peace - Margin, “A man of peace.” Literally, “I (am) peace.” It is my nature. I desire to live in peace. I strive to do so. I do nothing to provoke a quarrel. I would do anything which would be right to pacify others. I would make any sacrifices, yield to any, demands, consent to any arrangements which would promise peace.
But when I speak - When I say anything on the subject, when I propose any new arrangements, when I suggest any changes, when I give utterance to my painful feelings, and express a desire to live differently - they will listen to nothing; they will be satisfied with nothing.
They are for war - For discord, variance, strife. All my efforts to live in peace are vain. They are determined to quarrel, and I cannot prevent it.
(a) A man in such a case should separate from such a person, if possible, as the only way of peace.
(b) If his position and relations are such that that cannot be done, then he should be careful that he does nothing himself to irritate and to keep up the strife.
(c) If all that he does or can do for peace is vain, and if his relations and position are such that he cannot separate, then he should bear it patiently - as coming from God, and as the discipline of his life. God has many ways of testing the patience and faith of his people, and there are few things which will do so more effectually than this; few situations where piety will shine more beautifully than in such a trial;
(d) He who is thus tried should look with the more earnestness of desire to another world. There is a world of peace; and the peace of heaven will be all the more grateful and blessed when we go up to it from such a scene of conflict and war.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Psalms 120:7. I am for peace — We love to be quiet and peaceable; but they are continually engaged in excursions of rapine and plunder. It is evident that the psalmist refers to a people like the Scenitae or wandering Arabs, who live constantly in tents, and subsist by robbery; plundering and carrying away all that they can seize. The poor captives wished them to cultivate the arts of peace, and live quietly; but they would hear of nothing but their old manner of life.
ANALYSIS OF THE HUNDRED AND TWENTIETH PSALM
The psalmist in distress -
I. Flees to God by prayer.
II. Sets forth the miseries of a foul and deceitful tongue.
III. Complains of his banishment.
I. 1. He is in distress, and cries to the Lord; the surest and best way.
2. He tells us of the success of his prayer: "God heard him."
3. Of the matter of it: "Lord, I beseech thee deliver my soul! " 1. "From lying lips." Detractions, calumnies, and defamations. 2. From "a deceitful tongue," which, under the colour of friendship, covers deceit. A detractor does his mischief openly, a flatterer secretly; so that when a deceitful tongue is joined with lying lips, the mischief is intolerable.
II. He sets forth the evil that shall fall on such deceivers and slanderers.
1. Arrows - which wound afar off, suddenly and invisibly.
2. Sharp arrows, well-headed and keen, that can pierce deeply.
3. "Sharp arrows of the mighty," shot by a strong hand, and so much the more dangerous.
4. "With coals - inflamed arrows," such as set all things on fire.
5. "With coals of juniper," which of all coals are the hottest, and keep fire the longest.
III. The psalmist complains of his banishment.
1. He laments his situation on account of the wickedness of the people among whom he sojourned.
2. They were barbarous and inhuman, enemies to piety and civility.
3. His state was the more intolerable, as it had been of long duration: "My soul hath long dwelt," c.
His disposition was quite contrary to theirs.
1. "I am for peace." I wish to live in peace, and cultivate it.
2. But when I speak of peace, they are for war They are fierce and inhuman. It was said of the Macedonians in Philip's time, Illis pacem esse bellum et bellum pacem. "To them peace was war, and war was peace." Such were the people of the provinces, among whom many of the Israelites were in captivity.
