Corpus Psalterium · Vol. V
Psalm CXXII (122)
Cantillated — Processional Arrival
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 122 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
A Song of Ascents. By David.
I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to Yahweh’s house!”
שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֗וֹת לְדָ֫וִ֥ד שָׂ֭מַחְתִּי בְּאֹמְרִ֣ים לִ֑י בֵּ֖ית יְהוָ֣ה נֵלֵֽךְ׃
Our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem!
עֹ֭מְדוֹת הָי֣וּ רַגְלֵ֑ינוּ בִּ֝שְׁעָרַ֗יִךְ יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃
Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together,
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֥ם הַבְּנוּיָ֑ה כְּ֝עִ֗יר שֶׁחֻבְּרָה־לָּ֥הּ יַחְדָּֽו׃
where the tribes go up, even Yah’s tribes, according to an ordinance for Israel, to give thanks to Yahweh’s name.
שֶׁשָּׁ֨ם עָל֪וּ שְׁבָטִ֡ים שִׁבְטֵי־יָ֭הּ עֵד֣וּת לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לְ֝הֹד֗וֹת לְשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָֽה׃
For there are set thrones for judgment, the thrones of David’s house.
כִּ֤י שָׁ֨מָּה ׀ יָשְׁב֣וּ כִסְא֣וֹת לְמִשְׁפָּ֑ט כִּ֝סְא֗וֹת לְבֵ֣ית דָּוִֽיד׃
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Those who love you will prosper.
שַׁ֭אֲלוּ שְׁל֣וֹם יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם יִ֝שְׁלָ֗יוּ אֹהֲבָֽיִךְ׃
Peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.
יְהִֽי־שָׁל֥וֹם בְּחֵילֵ֑ךְ שַׁ֝לְוָ֗ה בְּאַרְמְנוֹתָֽיִךְ׃
For my brothers’ and companions’ sakes, I will now say, “Peace be within you.”
לְ֭מַעַן אַחַ֣י וְרֵעָ֑י אֲדַבְּרָה־נָּ֖א שָׁל֣וֹם בָּֽךְ׃
For the sake of the house of Yahweh our God, I will seek your good.
לְ֭מַעַן בֵּית־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ אֲבַקְשָׁ֖ה ט֣וֹב לָֽךְ׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
Come
we are climbing
up to the LORD's house
My heart leapt
when they told me
Come
we are climbing
up to the LORD's house
Now our feet
are standing
inside your gates
Jerusalem
Jerusalem
built up tight
a city bound
together as one
where the tribes go up
the tribes of the LORD
to give thanks
to the name of the LORD
for there the thrones stand
thrones for judgment
thrones of the house of David
Ask for Jerusalem's peace
may those who love you
rest easy
Peace
be inside your walls
quiet ease
in your towers
Ask for Jerusalem's peace
may those who love you
rest easy
Peace
be inside your walls
quiet ease
in your towers
For my brothers
and my friends
I will say
peace be in you
Ask for Jerusalem's peace
may those who love you
rest easy
Peace
be inside your walls
quiet ease
in your towers
For the house
of the LORD our God
I will seek
your good
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 125 psalms free.