Psalm 122:2
ESV
Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!
NIV
Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem.
NASB
Our feet are standing Within your gates, Jerusalem,
CSB
Our feet were standing within your gates, Jerusalem —
NLT
And now here we are, standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem.
KJV
Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
NKJV
Our feet have been standing Within your gates, O Jerusalem!
What does Psalm 122:2 mean?
These songs of "ascents" (Psalm 120—134) have been used along the journey to Jerusalem by those arriving for various feast days (Deuteronomy 16:16). In this psalm, the psalmist—probably David—is excited to go to the temple for worship (Psalm 122:1). This would be the expected attitude of a man "after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14).Other psalms also encourage a lifestyle of enthusiastic praise to the Lord (Psalm 61:8; 97:11–12; 100:2, 4). The rest of this song honors Jerusalem as the place where God established the center of His chosen nation (Psalm 122:3–5).
Psalm 122:1–2 rejoices because the psalmist—named as David—was called to worship God in Jerusalem. He is glad to be standing within the city. The expression "house of the Lord" frequently refers to the tabernacle (Exodus 25:8–9) and later to the temple (1 Kings 6:1) where sacrifices were offered.
The psalmist, likely David himself, is happy to be called to the temple, also called the "house of the Lord" (1 Kings 6:1). This is located in Jerusalem, the city of David (2 Samuel 5:7; 1 Kings 8:1). The city became the center of Israel's political and religious life. For those reasons, the psalmist prays that the city will be protected; he calls others to join in this prayer.
