Prayer for Jerusalem's Peace
Psalms 121
A Song of Degrees expressing joy at going up to the house of the Lord, describing Jerusalem as a city built for the tribes to give thanks to the Lord's name and the seat of thrones of judgment for the house of David. It calls for prayer for the peace and prosperity of Jerusalem for the sake of brethren and neighbors and the house of the Lord.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonI WAS rejoiced when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord.
BrentonA Song of Degrees. I was glad when they said to me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.
GreekὨδὴ τῶν ἀναβαθμῶν. Εὐφράνθην ἐπὶ τοῖς εἰρηκόσι μοι, εἰς οἶκον Κυρίου πορευσόμεθα.
KJVI was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
JPSA Song of Ascents; of David. I rejoiced when they said unto me: 'Let us go unto the house of the LORD.'
2
ThomsonOur feet have been standing in thy courts, O Jerusalem.
BrentonOur feet stood in thy courts, O Jerusalem.
GreekἙστῶτες ἦσαν οἱ πόδες ἡμῶν ἐν ταῖς αὐλαῖς σου Ἱερουσαλήμ.
KJVOur feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
JPSOur feet are standing within thy gates, O Jerusalem;
3
ThomsonJerusalem is built like a city; with regard to which, the participation of it is for this very purpose:
BrentonJerusalem is built as a city whose fellowship is complete.
GreekἹερουσαλὴμ οἰκοδομουμένη ὡς πόλις, ἧς ἡ μετοχὴ αὐτῆς ἐπιτοαυτό.
KJVJerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:
JPSJerusalem, that art builded as a city that is compact together;
4
Thomsonfor thither the tribes have come up—the tribes of the Lord, a testimony to Israel; that they may give thanks to the name of the Lord:
BrentonFor thither the tribes went up, the tribes of the Lord, as a testimony for Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.
GreekἘκεῖ γὰρ ἀνέβησαν αἱ φυλαὶ, φυλαὶ Κυρίου μαρτύριον τῷ Ἰσραὴλ, τοῦ ἐξομολογήσασθαι τῷ ὀνόματι Κυρίου.
KJVWhither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.
JPSWhither the tribes went up, even the tribes of the LORD, as a testimony unto Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.
5
Thomsonbecause there the thrones for judgment are set—thrones for the house of David.
BrentonFor there are set thrones for judgment, even thrones for the house of David.
GreekὍτι ἐκεῖ ἐκάθισαν θρόνοι εἰς κρίσιν, θρόνοι ἐπὶ οἶκον Δαυίδ.
KJVFor there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
JPSFor there were set thrones for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
6
ThomsonPray, I beseech you, for the peace of Jerusalem; and for prosperity to them who love thee.
BrentonPray now for the peace of Jerusalem: and let there be prosperity to them that love thee.
GreekἘρωτήσατε δὴ τὰ εἰς εἰρήνην τὴν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ εὐθηνία τοῖς ἀγαπῶσί σε.
KJVPray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
JPSPray for the peace of Jerusalem; May they prosper that love thee.
7
ThomsonO let there be peace in thine army and prosperity in thy palaces!
BrentonLet peace, I pray, be within thine host, and prosperity in thy palaces.
GreekΓενέσθω δὴ εἰρήνη ἐν τῇ δυνάμει σου, καὶ εὐθηνία ἐν ταῖς πυργοβάρεσί σου.
KJVPeace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
JPSPeace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
8
ThomsonFor the sake of my brethren and neighbours, I have expressed a wish of peace for thee—
BrentonFor the sake of my brethren and my neighbours, I have indeed spoken peace concerning thee.
GreekἝνεκα τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου καὶ τῶν πλησίον μου, ἐλάλουν δὴ εἰρήνην περὶ σοῦ.
KJV—
JPS—
9
ThomsonFor the sake of the house of the Lord our God I have earnestly sought thy good.
BrentonBecause of the house of the Lord our God, I have diligently sought thy good.
GreekἝνεκα τοῦ οἴκου Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν ἐξεζήτησα ἀγαθά σοι.
KJVBecause of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.
JPSFor the sake of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.