Psalms 122

1 A Song of Ascents. By David. I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to the LORD’s house!”

I was glad/happy when people said to me, “We should go to the temple of Yahweh [in Jerusalem]!”

2 Our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem!

And now we are here, standing inside the gates/city of [APO] Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together,

Jerusalem is a city that has been rebuilt, with the result that people can gather together in it.

4 where the tribes go up, even the LORD’s tribes, according to an ordinance for Israel, to give thanks to the LORD’s name.

We [people of the] tribes of Israel who belong to Yahweh can now go up there as Yahweh commanded that we should do, and we can thank him.

5 For there are set thrones for judgment, the thrones of David’s house.

There the kings of Israel who were descendants of [King] David sit on their thrones and decide cases [fairly when the people have disputes].

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Those who love you will prosper.

Pray that there will be peace in Jerusalem; I desire that those who love Jerusalem will (prosper/live peacefully).

7 Peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.

I desire that there will be peace inside the walls of the city and that [people who are] inside the palaces will be safe.

8 For my brothers’ and companions’ sakes, I will now say, “Peace be within you.”

For the sake of my relatives and friends, I say, “My desire is that that inside Jerusalem [people will live] peacefully.”

9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.

And because I love the temple of Yahweh our God, I pray that things will go well for the people who live [in Jerusalem].