| Psalm 122 | |
|---|---|
| "I was glad" | |
.jpg) Verses 2 and 3 engraved in Hebrew and English on a rock inTzahal Square, outside theWalls of Jerusalem | |
| Other name |
|
| Language | Hebrew (original) |
| Psalm 122 | |
|---|---|
| Book | Book of Psalms |
| Hebrew Bible part | Ketuvim |
| Order in the Hebrew part | 1 |
| Category | Sifrei Emet |
| Christian Bible part | Old Testament |
| Order in the Christian part | 19 |
Psalm 122 is the 122nd psalm of theBook of Psalms, beginning in English in theKing James Version: "I was glad" and in Latin entitledLaetatus sum. It is attributed toKing David and one of the fifteen psalms described asA song of ascents (Shir Hama'alot). Its title,I was glad, is reflected in a number ofchoral introits by various composers.
In the slightly different numbering system used in the GreekSeptuagint and LatinVulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm isPsalm 121.
The psalm is attributed to King David;[1] however,Alexander Kirkpatrick suggests that its author lived "in the country, at a distance from Jerusalem. He recalls the joy with which he heard the invitation of his neighbours to join the company ofpilgrims". He adds, "the psalm may best be explained thus, as the meditation of a pilgrim who, after returning to the quiet of his home, reflects upon the happy memories of his pilgrimage."[2]
Psalm 122 is recited in some communities followingMincha betweenSukkot andShabbat Hagadol.[3] It is also recited onShabbat Nachamu (the Shabbat afterTisha B'Av) in some traditions.[4]
It is recited onYom Yerushalayim in theConservative Jewish tradition due to the psalmist speaking of a united Jerusalem.[5]
Verses 7–9 are cited in TalmudBrachos 64a, which has been incorporated into various parts of the liturgy.[6]
According to theRule of St. Benedict, this Psalm was to be recited during the third act of the week, that is to say on Tuesday through Saturday, after Psalm 120 (119) and Psalm 121 (120).[7]
In theLiturgy of the Hours in general use today, Psalm 122 is recited or sung at Vespers on the Saturday of the fourth week of the four-week cycle. It is also used at Second Vespers in the Common texts for the feasts of both the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all Holy Women.
In the liturgy of theMass, it is recited on the feast ofChrist the King, the first Sunday ofAdvent in year A in the three-year cycle of Sunday readings and on the 34th Sunday inOrdinary Time in year C.
In theBook of Common Prayer, Psalm 122 is to be said or sung on Day 27 atMorning Prayer.[8]
Verse 1 is used in theintroit forMothering Sunday which coincides withLaetare Sunday, also called "Mid-Lent Sunday" orRefreshment Sunday.[9]
In theAgpeya, theCoptic Church'sbook of hours, this psalm is prayed in the office ofVespers[10] and the second watch of theMidnight office.[11]
Verse 6,Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem, is reflected in a sculpture byDani Karavan in the wall of theKnesset building in Jerusalem.[12]
The following table shows the Hebrew text[13][14] of the Psalm with vowels, alongside theKoine Greek text in theSeptuagint[15] and the English translation from theKing James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and theMasoretic Text come from different textual traditions.[note 1] In the Septuagint, this psalm is numbered Psalm 121.
| # | Hebrew | English | Greek |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֗וֹת לְדָ֫וִ֥ד שָׂ֭מַחְתִּי בְּאֹמְרִ֣ים לִ֑י בֵּ֖ית יְהֹוָ֣ה נֵלֵֽךְ׃ | (ASong of degrees of David.) I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. | ᾿ῼδὴ τῶν ἀναβαθμῶν. - ΕΥΦΡΑΝΘΗΝ ἐπὶ τοῖς εἰρηκόσι μοι· εἰς οἶκον Κυρίου πορευσόμεθα. |
| 2 | עֹ֭מְדוֹת הָי֣וּ רַגְלֵ֑ינוּ בִּ֝שְׁעָרַ֗יִךְ יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ | Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. | ἑστῶτες ἦσαν οἱ πόδες ἡμῶν ἐν ταῖς αὐλαῖς σου, ῾Ιερουσαλήμ. |
| 3 | יְרוּשָׁלַ֥͏ִם הַבְּנוּיָ֑ה כְּ֝עִ֗יר שֶׁחֻבְּרָה־לָּ֥הּ יַחְדָּֽו׃ | Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: | ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ οἰκοδομουμένη ὡς πόλις, ἧς ἡ μετοχὴ αὐτῆς ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό. |
| 4 | שֶׁשָּׁ֨ם עָל֪וּ שְׁבָטִ֡ים שִׁבְטֵי־יָ֭הּ עֵד֣וּת לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לְ֝הֹד֗וֹת לְשֵׁ֣ם יְהֹוָֽה׃ | Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD. | ἐκεῖ γὰρ ἀνέβησαν αἱ φυλαί, φυλαὶ Κυρίου, μαρτύριον τῷ ᾿Ισραήλ, τοῦ ἐξομολογήσασθαι τῷ ὀνόματι Κυρίου· |
| 5 | כִּ֤י שָׁ֨מָּה ׀ יָשְׁב֣וּ כִסְא֣וֹת לְמִשְׁפָּ֑ט כִּ֝סְא֗וֹת לְבֵ֣ית דָּוִֽד׃ | For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David. | ὅτι ἐκεῖ ἐκάθισαν θρόνοι εἰς κρίσιν, θρόνοι ἐπὶ οἶκον Δαυΐδ. |
| 6 | שַׁ֭אֲלוּ שְׁל֣וֹם יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם יִ֝שְׁלָ֗יוּ אֹהֲבָֽיִךְ׃ | Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. | ἐρωτήσατε δὴ τὰ εἰς εἰρήνην τὴν ῾Ιερουσαλήμ, καὶ εὐθηνία τοῖς ἀγαπῶσί σε· |
| 7 | יְהִי־שָׁל֥וֹם בְּחֵילֵ֑ךְ שַׁ֝לְוָ֗ה בְּאַרְמְנוֹתָֽיִךְ׃ | Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. | γενέσθω δὴ εἰρήνη ἐν τῇ δυνάμει σου καὶ εὐθηνία ἐν ταῖς πυργοβάρεσί σου. |
| 8 | לְ֭מַעַן אַחַ֣י וְרֵעָ֑י אֲדַבְּרָה־נָּ֖א שָׁל֣וֹם בָּֽךְ׃ | For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. | ἕνεκα τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου καὶ τῶν πλησίον μου, ἐλάλουν δὴ εἰρήνην περὶ σοῦ· |
| 9 | לְ֭מַעַן בֵּית־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ אֲבַקְשָׁ֖ה ט֣וֹב לָֽךְ׃ | Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good. | ἕνεκα τοῦ οἴκου Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν, ἐξεζήτησα ἀγαθά σοι. |
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link).The Psalms of David – Day 27. Morning
