A small walled town of pale stone on a narrow ridge seen from the valley road in full morning, a road climbing to one plain gate, a plain tent at the top of the ridge, the upper half clear sky.

Song of ascents · David

Psalm 122

Remember the best day you ever walked into a place of worship? This is that feeling, and then a prayer for the place.

9 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–41Book IDavid's prayers: 'The LORD is my shepherd'
42–72Book II'As the deer pants'; the throne under pressure
73–89Book IIIAsaph and Korah: the kingdom falls
90–106Book IVBack to Moses: the LORD reigns
107–150Book VSongs of ascents, and the last HallelujahPsalm 122

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

A song of ascents. Of David.

I was glad when they said to me,

“Let us go to the house of the LORD.”

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Low and close: the dusty sandaled feet of a family, old and young, standing still on worn paving just inside a plain stone gateway, a bright street beyond.

Our feet are standing in your gates,

O Jerusalem.

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Going up

From every end of the land the way to Jerusalem went up. From Jericho alone the climb is over 3,000 feet in under twenty miles.

Long thin lines of travelers on foot come up several stony roads from different valleys toward a small walled town on a narrow ridge, the sky pale above.

Jerusalem is built up

as a city united together,

where the tribes go up,

the tribes of the LORD,

as a testimony for Israel,

to give thanks to the name of the LORD.

For there the thrones of judgment stand,

the thrones of the house of David.

A quiet late afternoon in a narrow stone lane inside the wall: an old man and a boy sit on a step sharing bread, a woman passes with a jar, an open door behind.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

“May those who love you prosper.

May there be peace within your walls,

and prosperity inside your fortresses.”

For the sake of my brothers and friends,

I will say, “Peace be within you.”

For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,

I will seek your prosperity.

0:20

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Reflect

For the sake of

He seeks a place’s good for the sake of the people in it: “For the sake of my brothers and friends.” What place of worship, or which brothers and sisters, do you pray for by name?

You’ve experienced

Psalm 122

0 of 150 psalms read

A verse to carry with you

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”

Psalm 122:1

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