The Songs of Ascents

Illustration of The Songs of Ascents

Psalms 120 to 134 form a collection of fifteen short psalms, each headed 'A Song of degrees' in the King James Version, and widely understood as songs sung by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem for the feasts. They move from distress far from home, 'In my distress I cried unto the LORD,' to joy at arrival: 'Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.' Along the way they sing of the LORD who keeps Israel and never sleeps, of unity among brethren, and of blessing out of Zion.

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Strongest connections in Scripture
Psalms 121 Psalms 122 Psalms 134

Key Passages

I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes

Psalms 121:1-8

The pilgrim looks to the hills and remembers that his help comes from the LORD who never slumbers.

I1 will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. 8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Let Us Go into the House of the LORD

Psalms 122:1-2

Gladness fills the travelers as they arrive and stand within Jerusalem's gates.

I1 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.

Bless Ye the LORD

Psalms 134:1-3

The collection closes with a call to bless the LORD in His house and a blessing from Zion.

B1ehold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.

2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD. 3 The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.

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Did You Know?

1

There are fifteen Songs of Ascents, Psalms 120-134.

2

In the King James Version each is titled 'A Song of degrees'.

3

Psalm 121, 'I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills', is one of them.

4

Psalm 133 praises how good and pleasant it is 'for brethren to dwell together in unity'.