Psalms 120:1

A song of ascents. ²  In my distress I cried out to the Lord and he answered me.

A song of ascents. I call on the LORD in my distress, and he answers me.

<<A Song of Ascents.>> In my trouble I cried to the LORD, And He answered me.

<<A song for the ascent to Jerusalem.>> I took my troubles to the LORD; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.

I'm in trouble. I cry to GOD, desperate for an answer:

<A Song of the going up.> In my trouble my cry went up to the Lord, and he gave me an answer.

In my distress I cry to the LORD, that he may answer me:

<<A Song of Ascents.>> In my distress I cried to the LORD, And He heard me.

A song of ascents. ²  In my distress I cried out to the Lord and he answered me.

¹ sn Psalm 120. The genre and structure of this psalm are uncertain. It begins like a thanksgiving psalm, with a brief notice that God has heard the psalmist’s prayer for help and has intervened. But v. 2 is a petition for help, followed by a taunt directed toward enemies (vv. 3-4) and a lament (vv. 5-7). Perhaps vv. 2-7 recall the psalmist’s prayer when he cried out to the Lord.

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.