> [[psalm-121|← Previous]] | [[psalm-00|TOC]] | [[psalm-123|Next →]] --- # Psalm 122 ## A Pilgrim’s Prayer for Jerusalem 1 A song of ascents. Of David. ### I I rejoiced when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” 2 And now our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem. 3 Jerusalem, built as a city, walled round about. 4 There the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, As it was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. 5 There are the thrones of justice, the thrones of the house of David. ### II 6 For the peace of Jerusalem pray: “May those who love you prosper! 7 May peace be within your ramparts, prosperity within your towers.” 8 For the sake of my brothers and friends I say, “Peace be with you.” 9 For the sake of the house of the LORD, our God, I pray for your good. \* (Psalm 122) A song of Zion, sung by pilgrims obeying the law to visit Jerusalem three times on a journey. The singer anticipates joining the procession into the city ([Ps 122:1] – [3]). Jerusalem is a place of encounter, where the people praise God ([Ps 122:4]) and hear the divine justice mediated by the king ([Ps 122:5]). The very buildings bespeak God’s power (cf. [Ps 48:13] – [15]). May the grace of this place transform the people’s lives ([Ps 122:6] – [9])! \* (122:3) Walled round about: lit., “which is joined to it,” probably referring both to the density of the buildings and to the dense population. a. (122:1) [Ps 43:3] – [4]; [84:2] – [5]. b. (122:3) [Ps 48:13] – [14]. c. (122:4) [Dt 16:16]. d. (122:7) [Ps 128:5]. e. (122:8) [Jn 20:19ff]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[psalm-121|← Previous]] | [[psalm-00|TOC]] | [[psalm-123|Next →]]