Psalms 120:2-3

Context

120:2 I said,¹ “O Lord, rescue me²

from those who lie with their lips³

and those who deceive with their tongue.⁴

120:3 How will he severely punish you,

you deceptive talker?⁵

[120:2] ¹tn The words “I said” are supplied in the translation for clarification. See the introductory note for this psalm.

[120:2] ²tn Or “my life.”

[120:2] ³tn Heb “from a lip of falsehood.”

[120:2] ⁴tn Heb “from a tongue of deception.”

[120:3] ⁵tn Heb “What will he give to you, and what will he add to you, O tongue of deception?” The psalmist addresses his deceptive enemies. The Lord is the understood subject of the verbs “give” and “add.” The second part of the question echoes a standard curse formula, “thus the Lord/God will do … and thus he will add” (see Ruth 1:17; 1 Sam 3:17; 14:44; 20:13; 25:22; 2 Sam 3:9, 35; 19:13; 1 Kgs 2:23; 2 Kgs 6:31).