Psalms 120
Prayer for Breaking Away from the Treacherous.
1 In my trouble I cried to the Lord,
And He answered me.
2 Rescue my soul, O Lord, from lying lips,
And from a deceitful tongue.
3 What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you,
You deceitful tongue?--
4 Sharp arrows of the warrior,
With the [b]burning coals of the broom tree.
5 Woe to me, for I sojourn in Meshech,
and I live among the tents of Kedar [among hostile people]!
6 Too long my soul has had its dwelling
With those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace, but when I speak,
They are for war.
[b] v4: The ancient rabbis explained that coals from a broom tree are unusual in that they continue burning on the inside even after they are extinguished on the outside. They compared this to a person who listens to slander: even if you try to persuade him otherwise and he seems to be convinced, he is still “burning” on the inside, i.e. still unconvinced.