Psalm 125 Explained

Psalm 125
Subtitle:"They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion"
Type:Song of Ascents
Image Upright:1.2
Language:Hebrew (original)
Other Name:
  • Psalm 124 (Vulgate)
  • "Qui confidunt in Domino"
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Psalm 125 is the 125th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "They that trust in the shall be as mount Zion". In Latin, it is known by as, "Qui confidunt in Domino".[1] The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. Psalm 125 is one of fifteen psalms that begin with the words "A song of ascents" (Shir Hama'alot).

In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 124.

The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies.

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text[2] [3] of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

VerseHebrewEnglish translation (JPS 1917)
1A Song of Ascents. They that trust in the LORD Are as mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abideth for ever.
2As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, So the LORD is round about His people, From this time forth and for ever.
3For the rod of wickedness shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; That the righteous put not forth their hands unto iniquity.
4Do good, O LORD, unto the good, And to them that are upright in their hearts.
5But as for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, The LORD will lead them away with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel.

King James Version

  1. They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
  2. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.
  3. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
  4. Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.
  5. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.

Verse 5

As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways,

The Lord shall lead them away

With the workers of iniquity.

Peace be upon Israel![4] For "crooked ways", the Vulgate has the words in obligationes,[5] translated in the Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition as "such as turn aside into bonds".[6] [7]

The concluding prayer for peace upon Israel recurs at the end of Psalm 128. It is best taken as a "detached clause", according to the Pulpit Commentary.[8]

Uses

Judaism

This psalm is recited following Mincha between Sukkot and Shabbat Hagadol.[9]

Catholic Church

Around 530, St. Benedict of Nursia used this for the office of Sext from Tuesday until Saturday, after Psalms 123 and 124, according to the Rule of St. Benedict.[10] [11] Today its use is in the Liturgy of the Hours, being recited or sung at vespers on Monday of the third week of the four weekly liturgical cycle.

Musical settings

Heinrich Schütz composed a setting of a metred paraphrase in German of Psalm 125, "Die nur vertraulich stellen", SWV 230, for the Becker Psalter, published first in 1628.

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://medievalist.net/psalmstxt/ps124.htm Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 124 (125)
  2. Web site: Psalms – Chapter 125 . Mechon Mamre.
  3. Web site: Psalms 125 - JPS 1917 . Sefaria.org.
  4. Psalm 125:5

    New King James Version

  5. Psalm 124:5

    Vulgate numbering

  6. Psalm 124:5

    Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

  7. [George Leo Haydock|Haydock, G. L.]
  8. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/128.htm Pulpit Commentary
  9. The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 530
  10. D’après le Complete Artscroll Siddur, compilation des prières juives.
  11. Traduction par Prosper Guéranger, Règle de saint Benoît, (Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, réimpression 2007) p 46.