Discovery BoxPsalms 125:1-3 
ContextA song of ascents. 2
125:1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion;
it cannot be upended and will endure forever.
125:2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, 3
so the Lord surrounds his people,
now and forevermore.
125:3 Indeed, 4 the scepter of a wicked king 5 will not settle 6
upon the allotted land of the godly.
Otherwise the godly might
do what is wrong. 7
1 sn Psalm 125. The psalmist affirms his confidence in the Lord’s protection and justice.
2 sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.
3 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
4 tn Or “for.”
5 tn Heb “a scepter of wickedness.” The “scepter” symbolizes royal authority; when collocated with “wickedness” the phrase refers to an oppressive foreign conqueror.
6 tn Or “rest.”
7 tn Heb “so that the godly might not stretch out their hands in wrongdoing.” A wicked king who sets a sinful example can have an adverse moral and ethical effect on the people he rules.
