Psalms

Psalm 120:1–7

¹A song of ascents.

In my distress I cried to the LORD,

and He answered me.

²Deliver my soul, O LORD,

from lying lips and a deceitful tongue.

³What will He do to you,

and what will be added to you,

O deceitful tongue?

⁴Sharp arrows will come from the warrior,

with burning coals of the broom tree!

⁵Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech,

that I live among the tents of Kedar!

⁶Too long have I dwelt

among those who hate peace.

⁷I am in favor of peace;

but when I speak, they want war.

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
A song	שִׁ֗יר	šîr	Noun - masculine singular construct	H7892 song
of ascents	הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת	ham·ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ	Article; Noun - feminine plural	H4609 what comes up
In my distress	בַּצָּרָ֣תָה	baṣ·ṣā·rā·ṯāh	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H6869 id.
I cried	קָ֝רָ֗אתִי	qā·rā·ṯî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H7121 call, proclaim, read
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the LORD	יְ֭הוָה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
and He answered me	וַֽיַּעֲנֵֽנִי׃	way·ya·‘ă·nê·nî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; first person common singular	H6030 answer, respond

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Deliver	הַצִּ֣ילָה	haṣ·ṣî·lāh	Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singular	H5337 strip, plunder
my soul	נַ֭פְשִׁי	nap̄·šî	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
O LORD	יְֽהוָ֗ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
from lying	שֶׁ֑קֶר	še·qer	Noun - masculine singular	H8267 deception, disappointment, falsehood
lips	מִשְּׂפַת־	miś·śə·p̄aṯ-	Preposition-m; Noun - feminine singular construct	H8193 lip, speech, edge
and a deceitful	רְמִיָּֽה׃	rə·mî·yāh	Noun - feminine singular	H7423 deceit, treachery
tongue	מִלָּשׁ֥וֹן	mil·lā·šō·wn	Preposition-m; Noun - common singular	H3956 tongue

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
What	מַה־	mah-	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
will He do	יִּתֵּ֣ן	yit·tên	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
to you	לְ֭ךָ	lə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular
and what	וּמַה־	ū·mah-	Conjunctive waw; Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
will be added	יֹּסִ֥יף	yō·sîp̄	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3254 add
to you	לָ֗ךְ	lāḵ	Preposition; second person feminine singular
O deceitful	רְמִיָּֽה׃	rə·mî·yāh	Noun - feminine singular	H7423 deceit, treachery
tongue	לָשׁ֥וֹן	lā·šō·wn	Noun - common singular	H3956 tongue

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Sharp	שְׁנוּנִ֑ים	šə·nū·nîm	Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural	H8150 whet, sharpen
arrows	חִצֵּ֣י	ḥiṣ·ṣê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H2671 arrow
from the warrior	גִבּ֣וֹר	ḡib·bō·wr	Adjective - masculine singular	H1368 strong, mighty
with	עִ֝֗ם	‘im	Preposition	H5973 with
burning coals	גַּחֲלֵ֥י	ga·ḥă·lê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1513 ember
of the broom tree	רְתָמִֽים׃	rə·ṯā·mîm	Noun - masculine plural	H7574 broom-plant, retem

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Woe	אֽוֹיָה־	’ō·w·yāh-	Interjection	H190
to me	לִ֭י	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
that	כִּי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
I dwell	גַ֣רְתִּי	ḡar·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H1481 sojourn
in Meshech	מֶ֑שֶׁךְ	me·šeḵ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4902 the Moschi
that I live	שָׁ֝כַ֗נְתִּי	šā·k̲an·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H7931 settle down, abide, dwell
among	עִֽם־	‘im-	Preposition	H5973 with
the tents	אָהֳלֵ֥י	’ā·ho·lê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H168 tent
of Kedar	קֵדָֽר׃	qê·ḏār	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H6938 Kedar

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Too long	רַ֭בַּת	rab·baṯ	Adjective - feminine singular construct	H7227 much, many, great
have I	נַפְשִׁ֑י	nap̄·šî	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
dwelt	שָֽׁכְנָה־	šā·ḵə·nāh-	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H7931 settle down, abide, dwell
among	עִ֝֗ם	‘im	Preposition	H5973 with
those who hate	שׂוֹנֵ֥א	śō·w·nê	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct	H8130 hate
peace	שָׁלֽוֹם׃	šā·lō·wm	Noun - masculine singular	H7965 completeness, soundness, welfare, peace

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
I	אֲ‍ֽנִי־	’ănî·šā-	Pronoun - first person common singular	H589 I
peace	שָׁ֭לוֹם	šā·lôm	Noun - masculine singular	H7965 completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
but when	וְכִ֣י	wə·ḵî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
I speak	אֲדַבֵּ֑ר	’ă·ḏab·bêr	Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular	H1696 speak
they	הֵ֝֗מָּה	hêm·māh	Pronoun - third person masculine plural	H1992 they, them
war	לַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃	lam·mil·ḥā·māh	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H4421 battle, war