Psalm 122:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!"

NIV: May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels."

NASB: May peace be within your walls, And prosperity within your palaces.'

CSB: may there be peace within your walls, security within your fortresses."

NLT: O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces.

KJV: Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.

NKJV: Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.”

This follows a request for prayer (Psalm 122:6) on behalf of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:3–6), where pilgrims would travel for yearly festivals (Psalm 122:1–2; Deuteronomy 16:16). Here, the psalmist specifically prays for physical protection over the city. Walls and towers were primary defensive measures in the ancient world. To see these intact would encourage Israelites about the Lord's provision (Psalm 48:13–14).

Unfortunately, because of Israel's constant rejection of the Lord, the city has experienced mostly strife and warfare. Idol worship and sin led the nation to be conquered and scattered (2 Chronicles 36:17–20). Centuries after returning from exile, the leadership of the city rejected Jesus Christ, their promised Messiah. This led to a loss of peace (Matthew 23:37–38; 24:1–2) including the complete destruction of the temple in AD 70.

Since then, Jerusalem has been a place of nearly constant conflict and war. This will end only when Jesus returns to defeat all evil (Revelation 19:11–16), rule the world for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4) and then take His throne for eternity in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1–4).

Psalm 122:6–9 calls for prayers that Jerusalem will be kept secure and peaceful. Also, that its residents and all who love God will be safe. The psalmist, probably David, vows to seek Jerusalem's good for the sake of the Lord's house (1 Kings 6:1).

The psalmist, likely David himself, is happy to be called to the temple, also called the "house of the Lord" (1 Kings 6:1). This is located in Jerusalem, the city of David (2 Samuel 5:7; 1 Kings 8:1). The city became the center of Israel's political and religious life. For those reasons, the psalmist prays that the city will be protected; he calls others to join in this prayer.

Psalms 120—134 seem to have been used when Israelites traveled to Mount Zion for required festivals (Deuteronomy 16:16). David had captured a mountain fortress (2 Samuel 5:7), Zion, which became his capitol city and the site of Jerusalem. This was later called the "city of David" (1 Kings 8:1). Since going to Jerusalem literally meant climbing to a higher elevation, this block of psalms are called songs "of ascents." Psalm 122 honors Jerusalem and prays for its peace and safety.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.