Chapter Overview
Summary
Psalm 122 (MT) / Psalm 121 (LXX) is the third Song of Ascents — the pilgrim's arrival-at-Jerusalem celebration. 'I was glad when they said to me: Let us go to the house of the LORD!' (v. 1) became the LAETATUS SUM of Christian liturgy (Sarum Rite opening-antiphon for Advent). The psalm's 'pray for the peace of Jerusalem' (v. 6) has become one of the world's most-repeated short-prayers.
Notable Variants
122:1 'I was glad / Laetatus sum' as classic liturgical opening; 122:6 'pray for the peace of Jerusalem' as perpetual Jewish-Christian prayer; the shalom / shalem / yerushalayim wordplay (peace / perfect / Jerusalem) rooted in the city's name.
Structural Notes
MT Ps 122 = LXX Ps 121. 9 verses. Third Song of Ascents. Davidic-attributed.
A song of ascents. Of David. I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."
'I was glad when they said to me: Let us go to the house of the LORD!' tracks MT. 'LAETATUS SUM.' Latin Vulgate: 'Laetatus sum in his quae dicta sunt mihi: In domum Domini ibimus.' The traditional Advent opening-antiphon. Handel's 'My heart is inditing' (Coronation Anthem) and Parry's 'I Was Glad' (composed for Edward VII's coronation, sung at every British coronation since) — the psalm's solemn-processional tradition.
Our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem.
'Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!' tracks MT. PILGRIM-AT-THE-GATES — arrival-point.
Jerusalem — built as a city joined firmly together,
'Jerusalem — built as a city that is bound firmly together' tracks MT. BOUND-FIRMLY-TOGETHER (shechubrah-lah yachdav / metechomenē). City-as-unity — the Jerusalem-architecture-as-ecclesial-metaphor: Ephesians 4:16 ('held together by every joint with which it is equipped') develops.
There the tribes go up, the tribes of Yah — a decree for Israel — to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
'To which the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD' tracks MT. TRIBES-GO-UP — tripartite-festival pilgrimage (Deut 16:16). Luke 2:41–42 (Jesus' family going up yearly) continues.
For there the thrones of justice are set, the thrones of the house of David.
'There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David' tracks MT. THRONES-FOR-JUDGMENT. Matthew 19:28 ('you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel') extends.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure."
'Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they be secure who love you!' tracks MT. 'PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM.' Sha'alu shalom yerushalayim — exploits the wordplay: shalom (peace), shalem (perfect/complete), yerushalayim (Jerusalem). The city's name contains peace-and-perfection. This verse has become one of the world's most-repeated short-prayers — daily-recited in Jewish liturgy and central to Christian intercession for the Middle East.
May peace be within your walls, security within your citadels.
'Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!' tracks MT.
For the sake of my brothers and friends, let me say, "Peace be in you."
'For my brothers and companions' sake I will say: Peace be within you!' tracks MT.
For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.
'For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good' tracks MT. SEEK-YOUR-GOOD. Jeremiah 29:7 ('seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile') extends the intercession-for-the-city-in-which-we-dwell theology.