Psalms 120

A Prayer against evil tongues or false railers; together with a complaint of the Psalmist, that he could not avoid conversing with or among evil men.

1. A song, (or hymn) Hammaaloth. [That is to say, of ascending, or degrees, of which this and fourteen following Psalms have their denomination, whereof there are various conjectures; some conceive the reason to be, that the Levites were to sing them standing upon certain degrees; others, have other opinions] I have called unto the LORD in my distress, and he hath heard me [i.e. he hath delivered me.]

2. O LORD, rescue my soul [i.e. me; or, save my soul, i.e. my life, viz. That it be not taken from me.] from the false lip, from the deceitful tongue.

3. What shall the deceitful tongue give thee? [He turns himself to those lying wretches, and directs his speech to them one by one, convincing them of their malice. Others, What shall he (viz. God) give unto thee, O thou deceitful tongue?] or what shall it add unto thee?

4. Sharp arrows of a mighty one: [i.e. arrows shot by a mighty man: The evil and slandering words of evil tongues, are likewise called arrows, Psalms 64:4. and Prov.25.18.] together with glowing juniper-coals. [which soon take fire, burn very hot, and keep the heat a long time.]

5. Wo me, that I am a stranger (in) Mesech: [i.e. among an unholy and ungodly people, such as were the posterities of Mesech and Kedar. See Gen.10.2. and 25.13.] that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar. [Kedar was the son of Ismael, Gen.25.13. whose children dwelt in Arabia, the stony or craggy, and lived in Tents, Isa.21.13. and 17.]

6. My soul hath [i.e. I have] dwelt long [Others, my soul for her, etc. (Or for her self) i.e. to her sence, or in her own apprehension; as Psalms 123:4.] with those that hate peace. [hereby, the Psalmist giveth to understand, whom he means or points, as by those of Mesech and Keder.]

7. I am peaceable: [Heb. I am peace. See the like expression, Psalms 109:4. and the Annotation there; as also 2 Sam.17.3.] but when I speak, they are at war, [i.e. When I make mention or motion of peace, they straightways are for war; or they are not able to hear, or cannot endure one should speak of it.]