Psalms 121:1

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

A Song of Ascents. I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: From whence shall my help come?

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

שִׁ֗יר לַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת אֶשָּׂ֣א עֵ֭ינַי אֶל־הֶהָרִ֑ים מֵ֝אַ֗יִן יָבֹ֥א עֶזְרִֽי

Transliteration

Šîr for the maʿălôt I will ʾeśśāʾ my ʿênay to the hehārîm; from where will yābōʾ my ʿezrî?

Grammar Details

*Šîr*: construct noun, masculine singular - song/psalm of
*maʿălôt*: noun, feminine plural with prefixed preposition lamed - ascents/steps/going up
*ʾeśśāʾ*: imperfect Qal, 1st person singular - I lift up/raise
*ʿênay*: noun, feminine dual construct with 1st person singular suffix - my eyes
*hehārîm*: noun, masculine plural with definite article - the mountains
*mēʾayin*: interrogative adverb with prefixed preposition - from where
*yābōʾ*: imperfect Qal, 3rd person masculine singular - will come
*ʿezrî*: noun, masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix - my help

Word Meanings

*Šîr lamaʿălôt*: Song of Ascents/A Song for the Steps/Pilgrim Song
*ʾeśśāʾ*: I lift up/I raise/I direct
*hehārîm*: the mountains/the hills/the high places
*mēʾayin*: from where/whence/from what source

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Ps 120:1 : 1 A Song of Ascents. In my distress I cried unto Jehovah, And he answered me.
Ps 123:1 : 1 A Song of Ascents. Unto thee do I lift up mine eyes, O thou that sittest in the heavens.
Jer 3:23 : 23 Truly in vain is [the help that is looked for] from the hills, the tumult on the mountains: truly in Jehovah our God is the salvation of Israel.
Ps 2:6 : 6 Yet I have set my king Upon my holy hill of Zion.
Ps 87:1 : 1 A Psalm of the sons of Korah; a Song. His foundation is in the holy mountains.
Ps 78:68 : 68 But chose the tribe of Judah, The mount Zion which he loved.
Isa 2:3 : 3 And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.
Ps 68:15-16 : 15 A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; A high mountain is the mountain of Bashan. 16 Why look ye askance, ye high mountains, At the mountain which God hath desired for his abode? Yea, Jehovah will dwell [in it] for ever.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Ps 121:2-3
2 verses
90%
2My help [cometh] from Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth.
3He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Ps 123:1
83%
1A Song of Ascents. Unto thee do I lift up mine eyes, O thou that sittest in the heavens.
Ps 25:1
76%
1A Psalm of David. Unto thee, O Jehovah, do I lift up my soul.
Ps 124:8
76%
8Our help is in the name of Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth.
Ps 25:15
75%
15Mine eyes are ever toward Jehovah; For he will pluck my feet out of the net.
Ps 141:8
74%
8For mine eyes are unto thee, O Jehovah the Lord: In thee do I take refuge; leave not my soul destitute.
Ps 3:2-4
3 verses
74%
2Many there are that say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. {H5542}
3But thou, O Jehovah, art a shield about me; My glory and the lifter up of my head.
4I cry unto Jehovah with my voice, And he answereth me out of his holy hill. {Selah}
Ps 61:1-2
2 verses
74%
1For the Chief Musician; on a stringed instrument. [A Psalm] of David. Hear my cry, O God; Attend unto my prayer.
2From the end of the earth will I call unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Ps 130:1-2
2 verses
74%
1A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Jehovah.
2Lord, hear my voice: Let thine ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications.
Ps 120:1
73%
1A Song of Ascents. In my distress I cried unto Jehovah, And he answered me.
Ps 18:1-2
2 verses
73%
1For the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of David the servant of Jehovah, who spake unto Jehovah the words of this song in the day that Jehovah delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: and he said, I love thee, O Jehovah, my strength.
2Jehovah is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I will take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.
Ps 109:26
73%
26Help me, O Jehovah my God; Oh save me according to thy lovingkindness:
Ps 11:1
73%
1For the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of David. In Jehovah do I take refuge: How say ye to my soul, Flee [as] a bird to your mountain;
Ps 30:10
73%
10Hear, O Jehovah, and have mercy upon me: Jehovah, be thou my helper.
Ps 20:2
73%
2Send thee help from the sanctuary, And strengthen thee out of Zion;
Ps 131:1
73%
1A Song of Ascents; of David. Jehovah, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; Neither do I exercise myself in great matters, Or in things too wonderful for me.
Ps 16:1
73%
1Michtam of David. Preserve me, O God; For in thee do I take refuge.
Ps 54:4
72%
4Behold, God is my helper: The Lord is of them that uphold my soul.
Ps 46:1
72%
1For the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of the sons of Korah; set to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Lam 3:50
72%
50Till Jehovah look down, and behold from heaven.
Ps 62:1
72%
1For the Chief Musician; after the manner of Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. My soul waiteth in silence for God only: From him [cometh] my salvation.
Ps 23:1
72%
1A Psalm of David. Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Ps 91:2
72%
2I will say of Jehovah, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust.
Ps 141:1
72%
1A Psalm of David. Jehovah, I have called upon thee; Make haste unto me: Give ear unto my voice, when I call unto thee.
Ps 28:7
71%
7Jehovah is my strength and my shield; My heart hath trusted in him, and I am helped: Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; And with my song will I praise him.
Ps 102:1
71%
1A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before Jehovah. Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, And let my cry come unto thee.
Ps 9:13
71%
13Have mercy upon me, O Jehovah; Behold my affliction [which I suffer] of them that hate me, Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death;
Ps 118:13
71%
13Thou didst thrust sore at me that I might fall; But Jehovah helped me.
Ps 102:19
71%
19For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; From heaven did Jehovah behold the earth;
Ps 40:1
71%
1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for Jehovah; And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
Ps 27:1
71%
1[ A Psalm of David.] Jehovah is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
Ps 24:3
71%
3Who shall ascend into the hill of Jehovah? And who shall stand in his holy place?
Ps 122:9
71%
9For the sake of the house of Jehovah our God I will seek thy good.
Ps 118:7
71%
7Jehovah is on my side among them that help me: Therefore shall I see [my desire] upon them that hate me.
Ps 22:11
71%
11Be not far from me; For trouble is near; For there is none to help.
Ps 108:12
71%
12Give us help against the adversary; For vain is the help of man.
Ps 5:2-3
2 verses
71%
2Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God; For unto thee do I pray.
3O Jehovah, in the morning shalt thou hear my voice; In the morning will I order [my prayer] unto thee, and will keep watch.
Ps 116:6
71%
6Jehovah preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he saved me.
Jer 3:23
71%
23Truly in vain is [the help that is looked for] from the hills, the tumult on the mountains: truly in Jehovah our God is the salvation of Israel.
Ps 119:123
70%
123Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, And for thy righteous word.
Ps 143:9
70%
9Deliver me, O Jehovah, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
2 Sam 22:3
70%
3God, my rock, in him will I take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge; My saviour, thou savest me from violence.
Ps 39:7
70%
7And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee.