Psalm 121
Psalm 121 is a 'song of ascents' — a traveler's psalm of God as keeper who never sleeps, watching over our going out and coming in. A favorite for journeys, transitions and sleepless nights.
The Book of Psalms · Old Testament · chapter 121 of 150.
Where this chapter sits
Named only 'a song of degrees,' with no individual credited, this pilgrimage psalm belongs to a small set sung on the road up to Jerusalem for the festivals, and its brevity and repetition suit a group reciting it while moving rather than one voice composing alone. It answers an opening question about where help comes from with assurances about being kept, language of accompaniment through hardship rather than a promise that hardship will be withheld.
Key verses (KJV)
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.” — Psalm 121:1 (KJV)
“The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in.” — Psalm 121:8 (KJV)
What to notice as you read
The poem shifts partway from speaking about the LORD in the third person to addressing 'thee' directly, as though a leader answers a companion's question. The verb keep repeats six times in eight verses, binding the poem around one idea, presence through the journey rather than exemption from danger.
Read Psalm 121 on your iPhone
Read the full text of Psalm 121 in Quiethaven — choose your translation, read offline, and pick up where you left off. Pair it with a daily verse and a prayer timer.
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Frequently asked questions
Where does Psalm 121 come in Psalms?
It is chapter 121 of 150 in Psalms, a book of Wisdom in the Old Testament. The other widely-read chapters of Psalms are linked further down this page.
Where can I read Psalm 121?
Read the full text of Psalm 121 — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.