What does Psalms Chapter 124 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Trust is compared to Sion and encircling mountains. The rod statement gives a purpose concerning hands and iniquity. Good is requested and bonds retains the admitted wording.

Chapter breakdown

Qui confidunt is the incipit, with a heading saying the just are always under God’s protection and a gradual-canticle inscription. Those trusting the Lord shall be as Mount Sion, not moved forever, dwelling in Jerusalem. Mountains surround it, as the Lord surrounds His people now forever. The admitted sentence crosses verse 1 into verse 2; no seismic event, storm or observed pilgrimage is added.

The Lord will not leave sinners’ rod upon the just people’s lot so they may not stretch hands to iniquity. The speaker asks good for good and upright-hearted people, says those turning aside into bonds shall be led out with iniquity’s workers, and pronounces peace upon Israel. Bonds is retained without substituting crooked paths. Requested good and peace do not document achieved lasting security.

The story inside

Opening: Trust is compared to Sion and encircling mountains. Development: The rod statement gives a purpose concerning hands and iniquity. Conclusion: Good is requested and bonds retains the admitted wording.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Trust is compared to Sion and encircling mountains.
2
The rod statement gives a purpose concerning hands and iniquity.
3
Good is requested and bonds retains the admitted wording.

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 66085–66089
124:1. They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion: he shall not be moved for ever that dwelleth 124:2. In Jerusalem. Mountains are round about it: so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth now and for ever.
Lines 66091–66092
124:3. For the Lord will not leave the rod of sinners upon the lot of the just: that the just may not stretch forth their hands to iniquity.
Lines 66094–66098
124:4. Do good, O Lord, to those that are good, and to the upright of heart. 124:5. But such as turn aside into bonds, the Lord shall lead out with the workers of iniquity: peace upon Israel.