(1) The Song of Ascent[281]. I cried to God in my trouble, and He answered me. (2) God, deliver my soul from lying lips, from the tongue of evil. (3) What will the evil tongue give you, and what will it add to you? (4) [For he is like] the sophisticated arrows of a hero, with burning coals of gorse[282]. 5 Woe is me, that I dwell in a foreign land near Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Cedar. (6) Long has my soul lived with those who hate the world. 7 I am peaceful, but as soon as I speak, they are ready for war.

121.

(1) The Song of Ascent. I lift up my eyes to the mountains, whence will help come to me? (2) My help is from God, who created the heavens and the earth. (3) He will not let your foot waver, he who keeps you does not slumber. (4) Behold, the guardian of Israel does not slumber or sleep! (5) God is your watchman, God is your shadow from your right hand. 6 The sun will not strike you by day, and the moon by night. (7) God will preserve you from all evil, preserve your soul. (8) God will watch over your exit and your entrance from now on and forever.

122.

(1) The Song of the Ascent, David. I rejoiced when they told me: "Let's go to the House of God!" (2) Behold, our feet stand in your gates, O Jerusalem. (3) Jerusalem, built as a city merged into one, (4) whither the tribes ascend, the tribes of God, a testimony to Israel to give thanks to the name of God. (5) For there stand the thrones of justice, the thrones of the house of David. (6) Ask for peace to Jerusalem, that those who love you may prosper. (7) May there be peace within your walls, prosperity in your palaces! (8) For the sake of my brothers and my neighbors, I say, "Peace be with you!" (9) For the sake of the House of God, our Almighty, I wish you well.

123.

(1) The Song of Ascent. To Thee I lift up my eyes, O dweller in heaven! (2) Behold, as the eyes of a servant woman are to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a handmaid are to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are to God our Almighty, until he has mercy on us. (3) Have mercy on us, O God, have mercy on us, for we are filled with contempt. (4) Our soul is filled with reproach from the haughty, and humiliation from the proud oppressors.

124.

(1) The Song of the Ascent, David. If God had not been with us, let Israel say, (2) if God had not been with us when men rose up against us, (3) they would have swallowed us up alive when their wrath was kindled against us. (4) The waters would have drowned us, and the stream would have passed over our souls. (5) Stormy waters would pass over our souls. (6) Blessed be God, who did not give us as a prey to their teeth (7) Our soul was saved like a bird from the snare of fishers. The trap broke, and we were freed. (8) Our help is in the name of God, who created heaven and earth.