What happens in Psalms 120?
The psalm opens with testimony that the Lord answered a cry from distress. The speaker then asks to be rescued from lying lips and a deceitful tongue, warning that harmful speech will bring judgment. He laments living among hostile people, using distant places as images of separation and hardship. The closing lines express exhaustion at long exposure to those who hate peace. Though the speaker desires peace and speaks for it, others respond with conflict.
Psalms 120 is the first of the Songs of Ascents, a short collection used by worshipers who were going up to Jerusalem. It sets a tone of tension, prayer, and trust that continues through the next several psalms. After the long meditation of Psalm 119, this chapter turns to personal distress and the need for God's help in a difficult world.
Themes to notice
- Crying for helpThe psalm begins with a plea from distress and confidence that the Lord hears.
- Truth and deceitIt contrasts honest prayer with the damage caused by false and harmful speech.
- Peace amid hostilityThe speaker longs for peace but lives among people who prefer conflict.
Questions for Psalms 120
- What does this psalm teach about turning to the Lord in distress?
- How does the psalm describe the effect of deceitful speech?
- What stands out about the speaker's desire for peace in a hostile setting?
Read the full text of Psalms 120 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.