Psalms 120:1

With the Hebrew beneath

Psalms 120:1, word by word

A songשִׁירshir

song

A composition sung with words and melody, to praise or celebrate.

Where else “shir” appears

of the ascentsמַּעֲלוֹתmaalot

ascent

"Song of ascents", the title of psalms sung on the way up to Jerusalem.

Where else “maalot” appears

To YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears

in my distressצָּרָתָtsarata

distress

A time of hardship or danger.

Where else “tsarata” appears

I calledקָרָאתִיkarati

cry out

To shout to YHWH for help, call on his name.

Where else “karati” appears

and he answered meיַּעֲנֵyaane

answer

To reply to what was said.

Where else “yaane” appears

Translation note

Psalms 120 to 134 bear the title “A song of the ascents.” The Hebrew does not explain what “the ascents” are; it may refer to the going up of the pilgrims to Jerusalem for the feasts.

The context