Study Desk

A song of ascents. Of David.

I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord ."

Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together.

That is where the tribes go up— the tribes of the Lord — to praise the name of the Lord according to the statute given to Israel.

There stand the thrones for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love^(a) you be secure.

May there be peace^(b) within your walls and security within your citadels.^(c)"

For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, "Peace be within you."

For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity.^(d)

A song of ascents.

I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned^(a) in heaven.

As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord ^(b) our God, till he shows us his mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord , have mercy on us, for we have endured no end of contempt.

We have endured no end of ridicule from the arrogant, of contempt from the proud.

A song of ascents. Of David.

If the Lord had not been on our side— let Israel say^(a)—

if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us,

they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us;

the flood^(b) would have engulfed us, the torrent^(c) would have swept over us,

the raging waters would have swept us away.

Praise be to the Lord , who has not let us be torn by their teeth.

We have escaped like a bird from the fowler's snare;^(d) the snare has been broken,^(e) and we have escaped.

Our help is in the name^(f) of the Lord , the Maker of heaven^(g) and earth.