SAVE ME, LORD, FROM LYING LIPS
Key verse: 2
NIV
Psalm 120
A song of ascents.
1 I call on the Lord(A) in my distress,(B)
and he answers me.
2 Save me, Lord,
from lying lips(C)
and from deceitful tongues.(D)
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,(E)
with burning coals of the broom bush.
5 Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek,
that I live among the tents of Kedar!(F)
6 Too long have I lived
among those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace;
but when I speak, they are for war.
Cross references
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Deliver Me, O Lord
A Song of (A)Ascents.120 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,
(B)and what more shall be done to you,
you deceitful tongue?
4 (C)A warrior's (D)sharp arrows,
with glowing (E)coals of the broom tree!
5 Woe to me, that I sojourn in (F)Meshech,
that I dwell among (G)the tents of (H)Kedar!
6 Too long have I had my dwelling
among those who hate peace.
7 (I)I am for peace,
but when I speak, they are for war!
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Cross references
- Psalm 120:1 : Ex. 34:24; 1 Kgs. 12:27; Isa. 30:29
- Psalm 120:3 : [1 Sam. 3:17]
- Psalm 120:4 : Ps. 127:4; Jer. 50:9
- Psalm 120:4 : Ps. 45:5
- Psalm 120:4 : Ps. 140:10; Prov. 25:22
- Psalm 120:5 : Gen. 10:2; Ezek. 27:13; 38:2, 3; 39:1
- Psalm 120:5 : Song 1:5
- Psalm 120:5 : Gen. 25:13; Isa. 60:7; Jer. 49:28; Ezek. 27:21
- Psalm 120:7 : [Ps. 109:4]
120 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,
(B)and what more shall be done to you,
you deceitful tongue?
4 (C)A warrior's (D)sharp arrows,
with glowing (E)coals of the broom tree!
5 Woe to me, that I sojourn in (F)Meshech,
that I dwell among (G)the tents of (H)Kedar!
6 Too long have I had my dwelling
among those who hate peace.
7 (I)I am for peace,
but when I speak, they are for war!
Cross references
- Psalm 120:1 : Ex. 34:24; 1 Kgs. 12:27; Isa. 30:29
- Psalm 120:3 : [1 Sam. 3:17]
- Psalm 120:4 : Ps. 127:4; Jer. 50:9
- Psalm 120:4 : Ps. 45:5
- Psalm 120:4 : Ps. 140:10; Prov. 25:22
- Psalm 120:5 : Gen. 10:2; Ezek. 27:13; 38:2, 3; 39:1
- Psalm 120:5 : Song 1:5
- Psalm 120:5 : Gen. 25:13; Isa. 60:7; Jer. 49:28; Ezek. 27:21
- Psalm 120:7 : [Ps. 109:4]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
Psalms 12
-134 are called “Songs of Ascents,” which were sung on the trip up to Jerusalem for annual festivals.
Psalm 12
is a prayer for deliverance from malicious, hate-filled liars. The psalmist is far from Israel and is among godless foreigners (5; Meshek is Turkey, Kedar is Arabia).
He called on the LORD in his distress, and God answered. He prayed, “Save me, LORD, from lying lips and deceitful tongues.” He was confident that God’s judgment would come upon liars as sharp arrows and burning coals, either literal or figurative. He lived among people who hated peace. He was for peace; but when he spoke, they were for war.
Jewish exiles were to pray for the peace and prosperity of the nations (Jer 29:7). God’s people are called to be peacemakers, not trouble-makers or liars (Prov 15:18; Mt 5:9; 2Ti 2:24; Col 4:6).
Prayer: LORD, may my words promote peace and repentance rather than quarrels or strife. Cleanse my lips of all lies and deceit so that I may speak the truth in love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
One Word: Promote truth and peace in Christ, not lies
