Psalms 132:1-5

Psalm 132 ¹ 

A song of ascents. ² 

132:1 O Lord, for David’s sake remember

all his strenuous effort, ³ 

132:2 and how he made a vow to the Lord,

and swore an oath to the powerful ruler of Jacob. ⁴ 

132:3 He said, ⁵  “I will not enter my own home, ⁶ 

or get into my bed. ⁷ 

132:4 I will not allow my eyes to sleep,

or my eyelids to slumber,

132:5 until I find a place for the Lord,

a fine dwelling place ⁸  for the powerful ruler of Jacob.” ⁹ 

[132:1]  ¹ sn Psalm 132. The psalmist reminds God of David’s devotion and of his promises concerning David’s dynasty and Zion.

[132:1]  ² sn 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.

[132:1]  ³ tn Heb “all his affliction.” This may refer to David’s strenuous and tireless efforts to make provision for the building of the temple (see 1 Chr 22:14). Some prefer to revocalize the text as עַנַוָתוֹ (’anavato, “his humility”).

[132:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “the powerful [one] of Jacob.”

[132:3]  ⁵ tn The words “he said” are supplied in the translation to clarify that what follows is David’s vow.

[132:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “the tent of my house.”

[132:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “go up upon the bed of my couch.”

[132:5]  ⁸ tn The plural form of the noun may indicate degree or quality; David envisions a special dwelling place (see Pss 43:3; 46:4; 84:1).

[132:5]  ⁹ tn Heb “the powerful [one] of Jacob.”