Psalms 121
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Psalms chapter 121 is given here in full, verse by verse, in Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), with the Greek text of the Septuagint set beneath each verse. The text follows the Septuagint tradition received throughout the Orthodox Church.
9 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint Augustine of Hippo. The translator's notes for this chapter (1) follow the text.
Psalms 121
1(122) A Song of Degrees. I was glad when they said to me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.Ὠδὴ τῶν ἀναβαθμῶν. Εὐφράνθην ἐπὶ τοῖς εἰρηκόσι μοι, εἰς οἶκον Κυρίου πορευσόμεθα.
2Our feet stood in your courts, O Jerusalem.Ἑστῶτες ἦσαν οἱ πόδες ἡμῶν ἐν ταῖς αὐλαῖς σου Ἱερουσαλήμ.
3Jerusalem is built as a city whose fellowship is complete.Ἱερουσαλὴμ οἰκοδομουμένη ὡς πόλις, ἧς ἡ μετοχὴ αὐτῆς ἐπιτοαυτό.
4For there the tribes went up, the tribes of the Lord, as a testimony for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.Ἐκεῖ γὰρ ἀνέβησαν αἱ φυλαὶ, φυλαὶ Κυρίου μαρτύριον τῷ Ἰσραὴλ, τοῦ ἐξομολογήσασθαι τῷ ὀνόματι Κυρίου.
5For there are set thrones for judgment, even thrones for the house of David.Ὅτι ἐκεῖ ἐκάθισαν θρόνοι εἰς κρίσιν, θρόνοι ἐπὶ οἶκον Δαυίδ.
6* Pray now for the peace of Jerusalem: and let there be prosperity to them that love you.Ἐρωτήσατε δὴ τὰ εἰς εἰρήνην τὴν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ εὐθηνία τοῖς ἀγαπῶσί σε.
7Let peace, I pray, be within your host, and prosperity in your palaces.Γενέσθω δὴ εἰρήνη ἐν τῇ δυνάμει σου, καὶ εὐθηνία ἐν ταῖς πυργοβάρεσί σου.
8For the sake of my brethren and my neighbors, I have indeed spoken peace concerning you.Ἕνεκα τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου καὶ τῶν πλησίον μου, ἐλάλουν δὴ εἰρήνην περὶ σοῦ.
9Because of the house of the Lord our God, I have diligently sought your good.Ἕνεκα τοῦ οἴκου Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν ἐξεζήτησα ἀγαθά σοι.
Translator's Notes
These notes come from the printed edition of Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), and record where the Greek differs from the English rendering or admits more than one reading.
- v. 6*Or, ask Jerusalem how it is with her.
The Fathers on Psalms 121
Saint Augustine of Hippo comments on this chapter. Each excerpt below is drawn from the full text held in the Fathers Library; follow the link on any entry to read the whole work.
On Psalms 121:1Saint Augustine of Hippo2. This Psalm is a “Song of degrees;” as we have often said to you, for these degrees are not of descent, but of ascent. He therefore longeth to ascend. And whither doth he wish to ascend, save into heaven? What meaneth, into heaven? Doth he wish to ascend that he may be with the sun, moon, and stars? Far be it! But there is in heaven the eternal Jerusalem, where are our fellow-citizens, the Angels: we are…
Read Expositions on the Psalms →
On Psalms 121:2Saint Augustine of Hippo3. “Our feet were standing in the courts of Jerusalem” (ver. 2)…Consider what thou wilt be there; and although thou art as yet on the road, place this before thine eyes, as if thou wert already standing, as if thou wert already rejoicing without ceasing among the Angels; as if that which is written were realized in thee: “Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house; they will be alway praising Thee.” “Our feet stood…
Read Expositions on the Psalms →
On Psalms 121:3Saint Augustine of Hippo4. “Jerusalem that is being built as a city” (ver. 3). Brethren, when David was uttering these words, that city had been finished, it was not being built. It is some city he speaketh of, therefore, which is now being built, unto which living stones run in faith, of whom Peter saith, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house;” that is, the holy temple of God. What meaneth, ye are built up as…
Read Expositions on the Psalms →
On Psalms 121:4Saint Augustine of Hippo7. “For thither the tribes went up” (ver. 4). We were asking whither he ascendeth who hath fallen; for we said, it is the voice of a man who is ascending, of the Church rising. Can we tell whither it ascendeth? whither it goeth? whither it is raised? “Thither,” he saith, “the tribes went up.” Whither? To “partaking in the Same.” But what are the tribes? Many know, many know not. For if we use the word “curies” in…
Read Expositions on the Psalms →
On Psalms 121:5Saint Augustine of Hippo9. “For there were seated seats for judgment” (ver. 5). This is a wonderful riddle, a wonderful question, if it be not understood. He calleth those seats, which the Greeks call thrones. The Greeks call chairs thrones, as a term of honour. Therefore, my brethren, it is not wonderful if even we should sit on seats, or chairs; but that these seats themselves should sit, when shall we be able to understand this? As…
Read Expositions on the Psalms →
On Psalms 121:6Saint Augustine of Hippo10. He at once addeth, as unto the seats themselves, “Enquire ye the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem” (ver. 6). O ye seats, who now sit unto judgment, and are made the seats of the Lord who judgeth (since they who judge, enquire; they who are judged, are enquired of), “Enquire ye,” he saith, “the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem.” What will they find by asking? That some have done deeds of…
Read Expositions on the Psalms →
On Psalms 121:7Saint Augustine of Hippo12. “Peace be in thy strength” (ver. 7). O Jerusalem, O city, who art being built as a city, whose partaking is in “The Same:” “Peace be in thy strength:” peace be in thy love; for thy strength is thy love. Hear the Song of songs: “Love is strong as death.” A great saying that, brethren, “Love is strong as death.” The strength of charity could not be expressed in grander terms than these, “Love is strong as…
Read Expositions on the Psalms →
On Psalms 121:8Saint Augustine of Hippo13. Thus as he was here speaking of charity, he addeth, “For my brethren and companions’ sake, I spoke peace of thee” (ver. 8). O Jerusalem, thou city whose partaking is in The Same, I in this life and on this earth, I poor, he saith, I a stranger and groaning, not as yet enjoying to the full thy peace, and preaching thy peace; preach it not for my own sake, as the heretics, who seeking their own glory, say,…
Read Expositions on the Psalms →
On Psalms 121:9Open Psalms 121 in the interactive reader Switch translations, hear the chapter read aloud, tap any verse for its patristic commentary, and study the Greek word by word.Saint Augustine of Hippo14. “Because of the house of the Lord my God, I have sought good things for thee” (ver. 9). Not on my own account have sought good things, for then I should not seek for thee, but for myself; and so should I not have them, because I should not seek them for thee; but, “Because of the house of the Lord my God,” because of the Church, because of the Saints, because of the pilgrims; because of the poor, that they…
Read Expositions on the Psalms →