Mazmur 129:1

Psalm 129 ¹ 

A song of ascents. ² 

129:1 “Since my youth they have often attacked me,”

let Israel say.

Mazmur 130:1

Psalm 130 ³ 

A song of ascents. ⁴ 

130:1 From the deep water ⁵  I cry out to you, O Lord.

Mazmur 131:1

Psalm 131 ⁶ 

A song of ascents, ⁷  by David.

131:1 O Lord, my heart is not proud,

nor do I have a haughty look. ⁸ 

I do not have great aspirations,

or concern myself with things that are beyond me. ⁹ 

Mazmur 132:1

Psalm 132 ¹⁰ 

A song of ascents. ¹¹ 

132:1 O Lord, for David’s sake remember

all his strenuous effort, ¹² 

Mazmur 133:1

Psalm 133 ¹³ 

A song of ascents, ¹⁴  by David.

133:1 Look! How good and how pleasant it is

when brothers live together! ¹⁵ 

Mazmur 134:1

Psalm 134 ¹⁶ 

A song of ascents. ¹⁷ 

134:1 Attention! ¹⁸  Praise the Lord,

all you servants of the Lord,

who serve ¹⁹  in the Lord’s temple during the night.

[129:1]  ¹ sn Psalm 129. Israel affirms God’s justice and asks him to destroy the enemies of Zion.

[129:1]  ² sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.

[130:1]  ³ sn Psalm 130. The psalmist, confident of the Lord’s forgiveness, cries out to the Lord for help in the midst of his suffering and urges Israel to do the same.

[130:1]  ⁴ sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.

[130:1]  ⁵ tn Heb “depths,” that is, deep waters (see Ps 69:2, 14; Isa 51:10), a metaphor for the life-threatening danger faced by the psalmist.

[131:1]  ⁶ sn Psalm 131. The psalmist affirms his humble dependence on the Lord and urges Israel to place its trust in God.

[131:1]  ⁷ sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.

[131:1]  ⁸ tn Heb “and my eyes are not lifted up.”

[131:1]  ⁹ tn Heb “I do not walk in great things, and in things too marvelous for me.”

[132:1]  ¹⁰ sn Psalm 132. The psalmist reminds God of David’s devotion and of his promises concerning David’s dynasty and Zion.

[132:1]  ¹¹ sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.

[132:1]  ¹² tn Heb “all his affliction.” This may refer to David’s strenuous and tireless efforts to make provision for the building of the temple (see 1 Chr 22:14). Some prefer to revocalize the text as עַנַוָתוֹ (’anavato, “his humility”).

[133:1]  ¹³ sn Psalm 133. The psalmist affirms the benefits of family unity.

[133:1]  ¹⁴ sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.

[133:1]  ¹⁵ sn This statement refers to the extended family structure of ancient Israel, where brothers would often live in proximity to one another (Deut 25:5), giving the family greater social prominence and security. However, in its later application in the Israelite cult it probably envisions unity within the covenant community. See L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 212-15.

[134:1]  ¹⁶ sn Psalm 134. The psalmist calls on the temple servants to praise God (vv. 1-2). They in turn pronounce a blessing on the psalmist (v. 3).

[134:1]  ¹⁷ sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.

[134:1]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “Look!”

[134:1]  ¹⁹ tn Heb “stand.”