Psalm chapter 121
English Standard Version
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
New International Version
2My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;
New American Standard Bible
1I will raise my eyes to the mountains; From where will my help come? 2My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. 3He will not allow your foot to slip; He who watches over you will not slumber. 4Behold, He who watches over Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep. 5The Lord is your protector; The Lord is your shade on your right hand. 6The sun will not beat down on you by day, Nor the moon by night. 7The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. 8The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in From this time and forever.
Christian Standard Bible
2My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.
New Living Translation
1I look up to the mountains — does my help come from there? 2My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!
3He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. 4Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.
King James Version
New King James Version
1{A Song of Ascents.} I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? 2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. 4Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. 7The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. 8The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.
What does Psalm chapter 121 mean?
The theme of Psalm 121 is God's care of His people. Variations of the Hebrew root word for "keep" appear in verses 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8. This is the same term used in Genesis 2:15 to describe Adam's intended role in Eden. The sense of the word is to watch over.The people journeying to Jerusalem for yearly feasts (Exodus 23:14–17) could face many dangers. Among the more potent threats was that of robbers. Anyone making their way from a distant place to Jerusalem needed to trust God to watch over them. As the psalmist looked at the hills through which he traveled, his thoughts rose above the hills to God, the Creator. He assured himself that his safety came from the Lord (Psalm 121:1–2).
Between verses 2 and 3, the voice seems to change. Rather than someone speaking to themselves, or about themselves, the words are now directed from one person to another. This might be other members of a traveling group speaking to encourage the first speaker. That response agrees that the Lord would not allow the psalmist to stumble, nor would God relax His protection. God cannot be taken off guard, or surprised, like someone who falls asleep (Psalm 121:3–4).
Supportive words from this psalm also refer to natural risks such as exposure. God is said to watch over His people as they faced the risks of life on a fallen earth. Furthermore, the Lord would watch over His people in all their daily activities: their "going out and coming in." While safety is not guaranteed in life (Psalm 22:12–18; 25:16; John 16:33), believers can be confident that God is in control of all that happens (Romans 8:37–39). That awareness and care will extend into eternity (Psalm 121:5–8).
