Monday with the New Psalms: Psalm 125

Psalm 125

1 A song of ascents.
Those trusting in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
unshakable, forever enduring.a
2 As mountains surround Jerusalem,
the LORD surrounds his people
both now and forever.

3 The scepter of the wicked will not prevail
in the land allotted to the just,
Lest the just themselves
turn their hands to evil.

4 Do good, LORD, to the good,
to those who are upright of heart.
5 But those who turn aside to crooked ways
may the LORD send down with the evildoers.
Peace upon Israel!
--NABRE


1 A Song of Ascents.

Those who put their trust in the LORD
are like Mount Sion, that cannot be shaken,
that stands forever.
2 Jerusalem! The mountains surround her;
so the LORD surrounds his people,
both now and forever.

3 For the scepter of the wicked shall not rest
over the land allotted to the just,
for fear that the hands of the just
should turn to evil.

4 Do good, LORD, to those who are good,
to the upright of heart;
5 but those who turn to crooked ways--
the LORD will drive away with the wicked!
On Israel, peace!
--Revised Grail Psalms


NABRE Notes:
[Psalm 125] In response to exilic anxieties about the ancient promises of restoration, the Psalm expresses confidence that God will surround the people as the mountains surround Zion (Ps 125:1–2). The just will not be contaminated by the wicked (Ps 125:3). May God judge between the two groups (Ps 125:4–5).
[125:3] The land allotted to the just: lit., “the lot of the righteous.” The promised land was divided among the tribes of Israel by lot (Nm 26:55; Jos 18). The righteous are the members of the people who are obedient to God. If the domination of the wicked were to continue in the land, even the just would be infected by their evil attitudes.