Psalm 121
The Psalm 121 ( = the 120th Psalm after the counting of the Septuagint and the Vulgate ) is one of the better-known psalms of the Old Testament of the Bible. With only eight verses he is one of the shorter Psalms.
Content
Psalm 121 is one of the Psalm book, called The Great Hallel section (Psalm 120-136 ). The original headline (v. 1) is A Song of Ascents.
It is believed that the text was sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. At the beginning of the pilgrimage and the ascent into the Judean hill country secured the pilgrims the help of YHWH. The psalm speaks of the certainty that God day and night provides protection and that anyone who is familiar with salvaged along the way. The I - talk has been going in the third verse on the (self? ) Title of the petitioner and in verse 7 in the form of blessing. This suggests a litany of different singers or singing groups.
A single author of the psalm is not known. It is possible that, as with other psalms, a " grown" text.
German translations
More translation variants - even in other languages - as well as the Hebrew text can be found at Ps 121.1 to 8 EU ( here set to the NASB).
Effective history
Psalm 121 is used as a blessing for travelers and pilgrims as a blessing. He is one of the texts that are often used in the context of palliative care, especially in the blessing ceremony deceased, as well as ecclesiastical funerals.
Besides the usual in Orthodox prayer life Introduction prayers for morning and evening prayer is the daily prayer rule of the believer also included Psalm 121.