Fathers

Psalms 122

Tap a verse to read the Fathers. Press and hold, then drag, to make a card.

I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to Yahweh’s house!” Our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that is built as a city that is compact together, where the tribes go up, even Yah’s tribes, according to an ordinance for Israel, to give thanks to Yahweh’s name. For there are set thrones for judgment, the thrones of David’s house. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Those who love you will prosper. Peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces. For my brothers’ and companions’ sakes, I will now say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of Yahweh our God, I will seek your good.

About · Privacy · Credits · Support VRSZ

What the Fathers say

Psalms 122:1

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

This Psalm is a "Song of degrees;" as we have often said to you, for these degrees are not of descent, but of ascent. He therefore longeth to ascend. And whither doth he wish to ascend, save into heaven? What meaneth, into heaven? Doth he wish to ascend that he may be with the sun, moon, and stars? Far be it! But there is in heaven the eternal Jerusalem, where are our fellow-citizens, the Angels: we are wanderers on earth from these our fellow-citizens. We sigh in our pilgrimage; we shall rejoice in the city. …

Exposition on Psalm 122 ↗

Bernard of Clairvaux

But shall the hope of so great a joy be without joy? Rejoicing in hope, says the Apostle. And David said not that he would rejoice but that he had rejoiced, because he hoped he would go into the house of the Lord. He did not yet hold life, but he had assuredly reaped the hope of life; and he was experiencing in himself the truth of the Scripture that testifies that not only the reward but the very expectation of the just is joy.

Sermons on the Song of Songs, Sermon 37 ↗