Psalm 122

Psalm 122 is the 122nd psalm of the biblical Book of Psalms. In the Greek Septuagint version of the bible, and in its Latin translation in the Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 121 in a slightly different numbering system. It is titled Laetatus sum or commonly I was glad, and one of the fifteen psalms from the Book of Psalms which begin with the words "A song of ascents" (Shir Hama'alot).

This article uses Hebrew (Masoretic) psalm numbering. Psalm 122 in Greek (Septuagint or Vulgate) numbering corresponds to Psalm 123 in Hebrew numbering.

Psalm 122
"I was glad"
Verses 2 and 3 engraved in Hebrew and English on a rock in Tzahal Square, outside the Walls of Jerusalem
Other name
  • Psalm 121 (Vulgate)
  • "Laetatus sum"
LanguageHebrew (original)

Text

Hebrew Bible version

Following is the Hebrew text of Psalm 122:

Verse Hebrew
1 שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּֽעֲל֗וֹת לְדָ֫וִ֥ד שָׂ֖מַחְתִּי בְּאֹֽמְרִ֣ים לִ֑י בֵּ֖ית יְהֹוָ֣ה נֵלֵֽךְ
2 עֹֽמְדוֹת הָי֣וּ רַגְלֵ֑ינוּ בִּ֜שְׁעָרַ֗יִךְ יְרֽוּשָׁלִָֽם
3 יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֥ם הַבְּנוּיָ֑ה כְּ֜עִ֗יר שֶׁחֻבְּרָה־לָּ֥הּ יַחְדָּֽו
4 שֶׁשָּׁ֨ם עָל֪וּ שְׁבָטִ֡ים שִׁבְטֵי־יָ֖הּ עֵד֣וּת לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לְ֜הֹד֗וֹת לְשֵׁ֣ם יְהֹוָֽה
5 כִּ֚י שָׁ֨מָּה | יָֽשְׁב֣וּ כִסְא֣וֹת לְמִשְׁפָּ֑ט כִּ֜סְא֗וֹת לְבֵ֣ית דָּוִֽד
6 שַֽׁאֲלוּ שְׁל֣וֹם יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם יִ֜שְׁלָ֗יוּ אֹֽהֲבָֽיִךְ
7 יְהִֽי־שָׁל֥וֹם בְּחֵילֵ֑ךְ שַׁ֜לְוָ֗ה בְּאַרְמְנוֹתָֽיִךְ
8 לְמַֽעַן־אַחַ֥י וְרֵעָ֑י אֲדַבְּרָה־נָּ֖א שָׁל֣וֹם בָּֽךְ
9 לְמַעַן בֵּית־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ אֲבַקְשָׁ֖ה ט֣וֹב לָֽךְ

King James Version
  1. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
  2. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
  3. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:
  4. Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.
  5. For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
  6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
  7. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
  8. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
  9. Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.

Uses

Judaism

Psalm 122 is recited following Mincha between Sukkot and Shabbat Hagadol.[1] It is also recited on Shabbat Nachamu (the Shabbat after Tisha B'Av) in some traditions.[2]

Verses 7–9 are part of Talmud Brachos 64a.[3]

Catholic Church

According to the rule of St. Benedict set to 530, this Psalm was traditionally performed during the third act of the week, that is to say Tuesday – Saturday after Psalm 120 (119) and Psalm 121 (120).[4]

In the Liturgy of the Hours today, Psalm 122 is recited or sung at Vespers on Saturday of the fourth week. In the liturgy of the Mass, it is recited on the feast of Christ the King, the first Sunday of Advent in year A and the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time in year C.

Anglicanism

In the Book of Common Prayer, Psalm 122 is to be said or sung on Day 27 at Morning Prayer.[5]

Musical settings
See also: I was glad
  • Monteverdi set the Latin (Vulgate) text, Laetatus sum, at least three times, in his Vespro della Beata Vergine of 1610 and twice as a stand-alone motet in 1643.
  • Charpentier set the same text in 1671, again as a motet, catalogued as H.161, for soloists, chorus, flutes, strings and continuo. In 1690, he set another "Laetatus sum" H.216, for soloists, chorus, 2 treble instruments and continuo.
  • Jommelli did the same, in 1743.
  • An abridged form of the Book of Common Prayer translation, I was glad, is used in Parry's 1902 coronation anthem of that name.
  • The same English text was used for coronation music by Henry Purcell, William Boyce, Thomas Attwood and others.
  • Herbert Howells set verses 6 and 7 in his anthem "O, pray for the peace of Jerusalem."
  • In 1676 Biber conceives a name piece (C.9) to Salzburg. In 1693, Michel-Richard Delalande wrote his grand motet (S.47), but unfortunately, today lost.
  • Jules Van Nuffel set the psalm in Latin, Laetatus sum, for mixed choir and organ in 1935.
  • In the Liturgy of the Hours of the Catholic Church (the Divine Office), in Latin, Laetatus sum is chanted in Mode VII.

References
  1. The Complete Artscroll Siddur, p. 530
  2. The Artscroll Tehillim, p. 329
  3. The Complete Artscroll Siddur, p. 479.
  4. Règle de saint Benoît, traduction de Prosper Guéranger (réimpression ed.), Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, 2007, p. 46CS1 maint: others (link).
  5. "The Book of Common Prayer". The Church of England. Retrieved 26 November 2016. The Psalms of David – Day 27. Morning
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