Psalms120
English Standard Version
1A of . In my I to the Lord, and he me.
2 , O Lord, , a .
3 shall be to you, and more shall be to you, you ?
4A , with of the !
5 to me, I in , that I the of !
6Too have had my those who .
7 am for , but I , they are for !
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 120.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The psalmist prays to God to deliver him from false and malicious tongues. (1–4). He complains of wicked neighbours. (5–7).
vv1-4
The psalmist was brought into great distress by a deceitful tongue. May every good man be delivered from lying lips. They forged false charges against him. In this distress, he sought God by fervent prayer. God can bridle their tongues. He obtained a gracious answer to this prayer. Surely sinners durst not act as they do, if they knew, and would be persuaded to think, what will be in the end thereof. The terrors of the Lord are his arrows; and his wrath is compared to burning coals of juniper, which have a fierce heat, and keep fire very long. This is the portion of the false tongue; for all that love and make a lie, shall have their portion in the lake that burns eternally.
vv5-7
It is very grievous to a good man, to be cast into, and kept in the company of the wicked, from whom he hopes to be for ever separated. See here the character of a good man; he is for living peaceably with all men. And let us follow David as he prefigured Christ; in our distress let us cry unto the Lord, and he will hear us. Let us follow after peace and holiness, striving to overcome evil with good.
Key Words
שִׁיר: a song; abstractly, singing
מַעֲלָה: elevation, i.e. the act (literally, a journey to a higher place, figuratively, a thought arising), or (concretely) the condition (literally, a step or grademark, figuratively, a superiority of station); specifically a climactic progression (in certain Psalms)
צָרָה: tightness (i.e. figuratively, trouble); transitively, a female rival:
קָרָא: to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
עָנָה: properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce
נָצַל: to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense
נֶפֶשׁ: properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
שֶׁקֶר: an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial)
שָׂפָה: the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)
Cross References
Psalms 120Poole links divine retribution on the evil tongue to 'coals' of punishment in Psalm 140:11.
Supported by Matthew Poole
JFB aligns the description of 'slander and deceit' here with the destructive deceitful tongue of Psalm 52.
Supported by JFB
Poole notes God's swift vengeance on slanderers is compared to arrows, as in Psalm 7:13.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels Jeremiah's longing to flee his treacherous countrymen for a lodging place in the wilderness.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The thematic cry of distress answered by God's deliverance, typical of the Songs of Ascents.
Supported by John Calvin
The unbridled tongue characterized as a destructive fire, matching James' description of the tongue's fire.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels David being driven out by slanderers to abide among alien, ungodly peoples.
Supported by John Calvin
Henry urges believers to strive for peace with all, reflecting the psalmist's pursuit of peace.
Supported by Matthew Henry