Psalm 122:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For my brothers and companions ' sake I will say, "Peace be within you!"

NIV: For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, "Peace be within you."

NASB: For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, 'May peace be within you.'

CSB: Because of my brothers and friends, I will say, "May peace be in you."

NLT: For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, 'May you have peace.'

KJV: For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.

NKJV: For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, “Peace be within you.”

This psalm has prayed for the peace and security of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6–7). Included in this were those who traveled to the city for yearly worship feasts (Deuteronomy 16:16). Naturally, prayers for safety of the city would also imply requests for protection over those who lived there. These are the "brothers" and "companions" of the psalmist, who is likely David. It is honorable for someone to pray for the well-being of others.

In the new covenant church, Christians should love one another and pray for one another. Jesus commanded His disciples to imitate His love by loving fellow believers (John 15:12). His example was that of self-sacrificing and selfless love. He sacrificed His own life for them on the cross. Anything short of that is not Christlike love. It is also a mark of genuine love to pray for one's fellow believers. John 17 presents Jesus' High Priestly Prayer for His followers. When Peter was in prison awaiting execution, the church offered "earnest prayer" for him (Acts 12:5). Philippians 1:9 reports that Paul prayed for the Philippians. In 1 Thessalonians 5:25 he asks the Thessalonian believers to pray for him, and in 2 Thessalonians 1:11 he writes, "we always pray for you."

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.