Psalms 122:1

Context

Psalm 122¹

A song of ascents,² by David.

122:1 I was glad because³ they said to me,

“We will go to the Lord’s temple.”

Psalms 124:1

Context

Psalm 124⁴

A song of ascents,⁵ by David.

124:1 “If the Lord had not been on our side” –

let Israel say this! –

Psalms 131:1

Context

Psalm 131⁶

A song of ascents,⁷ by David.

131:1 O Lord, my heart is not proud,

nor do I have a haughty look.⁸

I do not have great aspirations,

or concern myself with things that are beyond me.⁹

[122:1] ¹sn Psalm 122. The psalmist expresses his love for Jerusalem and promises to pray for the city’s security.

[122:1] ²sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.

[122:1] ³tn Heb “in the ones saying to me.” After the verb שָׂמַח (samakh), the preposition בְּ (bet) usually introduces the reason for joy.

[124:1] ⁴sn Psalm 124. Israel acknowledges that the Lord delivered them from certain disaster.

[124:1] ⁵sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.

[131:1] ⁶sn Psalm 131. The psalmist affirms his humble dependence on the Lord and urges Israel to place its trust in God.

[131:1] ⁷sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.

[131:1] ⁸tn Heb “and my eyes are not lifted up.”

[131:1] ⁹tn Heb “I do not walk in great things, and in things too marvelous for me.”