Psalm 120 in Hebrew שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת — תְּהִלִּים 120 — with transliteration and word-by-word meaning
Psalm 120 in Hebrew, verse by verse from the Westminster Leningrad Codex: the Hebrew with full vowel points, every word broken into syllables with the STRESSED syllable in capitals, the meaning of each word beneath it, and the English of every line. Hebrew reads right to left. Tap Listen to hear a line read slowly by a Hebrew voice.
The fifteen Songs of Ascent sung by the pilgrims going up to Jerusalem, one for each step of the Temple. Psalm 126 opens the Grace after Meals on Shabbat and festivals.
שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת אֶל יְהוָה בַּצָּרָתָה לִּי קָרָאתִי וַיַּעֲנֵנִי
In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.
יְהוָה הַצִּילָה נַפְשִׁי מִשְּׂפַת שֶׁקֶר מִלָּשׁוֹן רְמִיָּה
Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.
מַה יִּתֵּן לְךָ וּמַה יֹּסִיף לָךְ לָשׁוֹן רְמִיָּה
What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?
חִצֵּי גִבּוֹר שְׁנוּנִים עִם גַּחֲלֵי רְתָמִים
Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
אוֹיָה לִי כִּי גַרְתִּי מֶשֶׁךְ שָׁכַנְתִּי עִם אָהֳלֵי קֵדָר
Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!
רַבַּת שָׁכְנָה לָּהּ נַפְשִׁי עִם שׂוֹנֵא שָׁלוֹם
My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.
אֲנִי שָׁלוֹם וְכִי אֲדַבֵּר הֵמָּה לַמִּלְחָמָה
I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
Psalm 120 in English
In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me. Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper. Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar! My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
How to read the Hebrew
Each card is one word. The Hebrew on top is fully pointed (with nikkud, the vowel marks). Under it the word is spelled out syllable by syllable in English letters, with a slash between syllables; the syllable in CAPITALS carries the stress — in Biblical Hebrew that is usually the last one. The third line is what the word means, with any attached prefix spelled out (and, the, in, to…). Read the cards from right to left, as the Hebrew goes.
Open Psalm 120 in Hebrew Blessings & Prayers →
More Hebrew blessings and prayers
- הַמּוֹצִיאBlessing over Bread HaMotzi
- קִדּוּשׁBlessing over Wine Kiddush for Shabbat evening
- שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵלThe Shema Shema Yisrael, with Baruch Shem and V'ahavta
- אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִםThe Lord's Prayer Avinu Shebashamayim — Matthew 6:9–13
- בִּרְכַּת כֹּהֲנִיםThe Aaronic Blessing Birkat Kohanim — Numbers 6:24–26
- מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִדPsalm 23 The LORD is my shepherd
- הַלֵּל — תְּהִלִּים 113Psalm 113 Hallel — 1 of 6