What does Psalms Chapter 121 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Rejoicing and courts precede description of Jerusalem. Tribes’ praise and Davidic judgment seats are named. Peace and abundance are requested for brethren and God’s house.

Chapter breakdown

Laetatus sum in his is the incipit. The heading interprets desire and hope for God’s kingdom and church peace; the inscription is a gradual canticle. The speaker rejoiced at words that we shall go to the Lord’s house, and says our feet were standing in Jerusalem’s courts. Companions, a long journey and a newly completed arrival are not added.

Jerusalem is built compact together. The Lord’s tribes went there as Israel’s testimony to praise His name; seats have sat in judgment upon David’s house. Compactness is not made a proven integrated commonwealth, and seats do not establish guaranteed nationwide equity.

The call asks prayer for Jerusalem’s peace and abundance for those loving her, then peace in strength and abundance in towers. For brethren and neighbors the speaker spoke peace and because of God’s house sought good things for her. The petition does not report attained prosperity, fortified security or resolved tribal discord.

The story inside

Opening: Rejoicing and courts precede description of Jerusalem. Development: Tribes’ praise and Davidic judgment seats are named. Conclusion: Peace and abundance are requested for brethren and God’s house.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Rejoicing and courts precede description of Jerusalem.
2
Tribes’ praise and Davidic judgment seats are named.
3
Peace and abundance are requested for brethren and God’s house.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 66000–66003
121:1. I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: We shall go into the house of the Lord. 121:2. Our feet were standing in thy courts, O Jerusalem.
Lines 66005–66011
121:3. Jerusalem, which is built as a city, which is compact together. 121:4. For thither did the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord: the testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord. 121:5. Because their seats have sat in judgment, seats upon the house of David.
Lines 66013–66022
121:6. Pray ye for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem: and abundance for them that love thee. 121:7. Let peace be in thy strength: and abundance in thy towers. 121:8. For the sake of my brethren, and of my neighbours, I spoke peace of thee. 121:9. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I have sought good things for thee.