Psalm 120

Prayer for Breaking Away from the Treacherous.

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In my trouble I cried to the Lord,

And He answered me.
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Rescue my soul, O Lord, from lying lips,
And from a deceitful tongue.

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What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you,
You deceitful tongue?—

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Sharp arrows of the warrior,
With the ^(a)burning coals of the broom tree.

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Woe to me, for I sojourn in Meshech,
and I live among the tents of Kedar [among hostile people]!^(A)

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Too long my soul has had its dwelling
With those who hate peace.

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I am for peace, but when I speak,
They are for war.

Footnotes:

a. Psalm 120:4: The ancient rabbis explained that coals from a broom tree are unusual in that they continue burning on the inside even after they are extinguished on the outside. They compared this to a person who listens to slander: even if you try to persuade him otherwise and he seems to be convinced, he is still “burning” on the inside, i.e. still unconvinced.

Cross references:

A. Psalm 120:5: Genesis 10:2; Genesis 25:13; Jeremiah 49:28; Jeremiah 49:29