A Prayer for Deliverance from Deceitfulness

1201 I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me. 2 Save me, Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues. 3 What will he do to you, and what more besides, you deceitful tongue? 4 He will punish you with a warrior's sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom bush.

5 Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek, that I live among the tents of Kedar! 6 Too long have I lived among those who hate peace.

Other Translations of Psalm 120:1-6

King James Version

A Prayer for Deliverance from Deceitfulness

1201 In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me. 2 Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. 3 What shall be given What shall be given...: or, What shall the deceitful tongue give unto thee? or, what shall is profit thee? unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? 4 Sharp Sharp...: or, It is as the sharp arrows of the mighty man, with coals of juniper arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.

5 Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar! 6 My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.

English Standard Version

A Prayer for Deliverance from Deceitfulness

1201 In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. 2 Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. 3 What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue? 4 A warrior's sharp arrows, with glowing coals of the broom tree!

5 Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar! 6 Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace.

The Message

A Prayer for Deliverance from Deceitfulness

1201 I'm in trouble. I cry to God, desperate for an answer: 2 "Deliver me from the liars, God! They smile so sweetly but lie through their teeth." 3 Do you know what's next, can you see what's coming, all you barefaced liars? 4 Pointed arrows and burning coals will be your reward.

5 I'm doomed to live in Meshech, cursed with a home in Kedar, 6 My whole life lived camping among quarreling neighbors.

New King James Version

A Prayer for Deliverance from Deceitfulness

1201 A Song of Ascents. In my distress I cried to the Lord, And He heard me. 2 Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips And from a deceitful tongue. 3 What shall be given to you, Or what shall be done to you, You false tongue? 4 Sharp arrows of the warrior, With coals of the broom tree!

5 Woe is me, that I dwell in Meshech, That I dwell among the tents of Kedar! 6 My soul has dwelt too long With one who hates peace.

New Living Translation

A Prayer for Deliverance from Deceitfulness

1201 I took my troubles to the Lord ; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer. 2 Rescue me, O Lord, from liars and from all deceitful people. 3 O deceptive tongue, what will God do to you? How will he increase your punishment? 4 You will be pierced with sharp arrows and burned with glowing coals.

5 How I suffer in far-off Meshech. It pains me to live in distant Kedar. 6 I am tired of living among people who hate peace.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 120:1-6

Commentary on Psalm 120:1-4

(Read Psalm 120:1-4)

The psalmist was brought into great distress by a deceitful tongue. May every good man be delivered from lying lips. They forged false charges against him. In this distress, he sought God by fervent prayer. God can bridle their tongues. He obtained a gracious answer to this prayer. Surely sinners durst not act as they do, if they knew, and would be persuaded to think, what will be in the end thereof. The terrors of the Lord are his arrows; and his wrath is compared to burning coals of juniper, which have a fierce heat, and keep fire very long. This is the portion of the false tongue; for all that love and make a lie, shall have their portion in the lake that burns eternally.

Commentary on Psalm 120:5-7

(Read Psalm 120:5-7)

It is very grievous to a good man, to be cast into, and kept in the company of the wicked, from whom he hopes to be for ever separated. See here the character of a good man; he is for living peaceably with all men. And let us follow David as he prefigured Christ; in our distress let us cry unto the Lord, and he will hear us. Let us follow after peace and holiness, striving to overcome evil with good.