Wisdom & Poetry · Old Testament
Psalms 125
Psalm 125: those who trust in the Lord are like mount Zion
General context
The psalm says that those who trust in the Lord shall be like mount Zion, which cannot be removed but abides for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from now on and for ever. It says the rod of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of the righteous, lest the righteous put their hands to iniquity. The speaker then asks the Lord to do good to those who are good and upright in heart. As for those who turn aside to their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them away with the workers of iniquity. The psalm closes with the words, peace shall be upon Israel.
Cited passages: Psalms 125:1, Psalms 125:2, Psalms 125:3, Psalms 125:4, Psalms 125:5
Psalms 125 (KJV)
1They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
2As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.
3For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
4Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.
5As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.
This page shows the King James Version. In the app, reading opens in the Berean Standard Bible unless you have chosen another translation. The reader includes five translations: the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), the King James Version (KJV), the World English Bible (WEB), the Bible in Basic English (BBE), and the American Standard Version (ASV). Search covers three of them: Berean Standard, King James, and World English. Basic English and American Standard readers search the King James words.
Historical context
The source prints no heading for this psalm; verse 1 begins with "They that trust in the Lord", so no title, author or occasion is given and none is asserted. Two places are named, mount Zion and Jerusalem, and the second is described by the mountains around it. The "rod of the wicked" is said not to rest on "the lot of the righteous", but the psalm does not say whose rod, what lot, or whether such a rod is present when the words are spoken. The people are called "his people" and "Israel", and the good, the upright, the righteous, the wicked and "such as turn aside" are named as groups without individual names. Verse 4 is the only direct address to the Lord. Verse 3 gives a reason for the promise, that the righteous might otherwise put their hands to iniquity, and the text leaves that possibility stated rather than explained. No Selah occurs.
Cited passages: Psalms 125:1, Psalms 125:2, Psalms 125:3, Psalms 125:4, Psalms 125:5
Literary context
Two comparisons open the psalm and both are about position: trusters are like a mountain that cannot be moved, and the Lord surrounds his people as mountains surround a city. "For ever" ends both verses. Verse 3 shifts from picture to promise and gives the promise a purpose clause. Verse 4 is a single petition, and verse 5 divides the ending into two groups, the crooked led away and Israel given peace. The word "round about" is used twice in one verse, once for the mountains and once for the Lord. The psalm ends on "peace", as Psalm 122 does with its wish for Jerusalem's peace, and the closing blessing is on the whole of Israel rather than on the righteous alone.
Cited passages: Psalms 125:1, Psalms 125:2, Psalms 125:3, Psalms 125:5, Psalms 122:6
Key moments
- Like mount Zion (Psalms 125:1). Those who trust in the Lord are compared to mount Zion that cannot be removed.
- Mountains round about (Psalms 125:2). The Lord surrounds his people as the mountains surround Jerusalem.
- The rod shall not rest (Psalms 125:3). The rod of the wicked is said not to rest on the lot of the righteous.
- Do good to the good (Psalms 125:4). The speaker asks the Lord to do good to the good and upright in heart.
- Peace upon Israel (Psalms 125:5). The crooked are led away with the workers of iniquity, and peace is placed on Israel.
For reflection
The psalm gives a reason for the rod not resting on the righteous: so that the righteous do not put their hands to iniquity. What does that reason assume about how long the righteous could bear pressure before yielding?
