What is psalms 121 hebrew?

Psalm 121 in Hebrew is one of the fifteen Shir HaMa'alot (שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת — "Songs of Ascent") found in the Book of Psalms, and it is a beloved psalm of trust and divine protection. Here is the full Hebrew text with translation.

Key Takeaways

Psalm 121 is titled Shir LaMa'alot (שִׁיר לַמַּעֲלוֹת), a "Song of Ascents," sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem.
Its central theme is God as the eternal Shomer (שׁוֹמֵר — "Guardian") of Israel and of each individual.
The word shomer (guardian/protector) appears six times throughout the psalm, emphasizing divine protection.
It is recited in many liturgical contexts including Shalom Aleichem on Shabbat night and Kriat Shema al HaMita (bedtime Shema).
The Steinsaltz commentary describes it as "words of reassurance and encouragement rather than prayer" [Steinsaltz Introductions to Tanakh, Psalms 121].

The Full Hebrew Text of Psalm 121

[Psalms 121]

פסוק א (Verse 1)

שִׁ֗יר לַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת אֶשָּׂ֣א עֵ֭ינַי אֶל־הֶהָרִ֑ים מֵ֝אַ֗יִן יָבֹ֥א עֶזְרִֽי׃ "A Song of Ascents. I lift my eyes to the mountains — from where will my help come?"

פסוק ב (Verse 2)

עֶ֭זְרִי מֵעִ֣ם יְהֹוָ֑ה עֹ֝שֵׂ֗ה שָׁמַ֥יִם וָאָֽרֶץ׃ "My help comes from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth."

פסוק ג (Verse 3)

אַל־יִתֵּ֣ן לַמּ֣וֹט רַגְלֶ֑ךָ אַל־יָ֝נ֗וּם שֹׁמְרֶֽךָ׃ "He will not let your foot falter; your Guardian will not slumber."

פסוק ד (Verse 4)

הִנֵּ֣ה לֹֽא־יָ֭נוּם וְלֹ֣א יִישָׁ֑ן שׁ֝וֹמֵ֗ר יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ "Behold, He neither slumbers nor sleeps — the Guardian of Israel."

פסוק ה (Verse 5)

יְהֹוָ֥ה שֹׁמְרֶ֑ךָ יְהֹוָ֥ה צִ֝לְּךָ֗ עַל־יַ֥ד יְמִינֶֽךָ׃ "The Lord is your Guardian; the Lord is your shade at your right hand."

פסוק ו (Verse 6)

יוֹמָ֗ם הַשֶּׁ֥מֶשׁ לֹֽא־יַכֶּ֗כָּה וְיָרֵ֥חַ בַּלָּֽיְלָה׃ "By day the sun will not strike you, nor the moon by night."

פסוק ז (Verse 7)

יְֽהֹוָ֗ה יִשְׁמׇרְךָ֥ מִכׇּל־רָ֑ע יִ֝שְׁמֹ֗ר אֶת־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃ "The Lord will guard you from all evil; He will guard your soul."

פסוק ח (Verse 8)

יְֽהֹוָ֗ה יִשְׁמׇר־צֵאתְךָ֥ וּבוֹאֶ֑ךָ מֵ֝עַתָּ֗ה וְעַד־עוֹלָֽם׃ "The Lord will guard your going and your coming, from now and forever."

Deeper Meaning & Commentary

The Opening Question

The first verse presents a subtle tension: "I lift my eyes to the mountains — from where will my help come?" The question me'ayin (מֵאַיִן) is immediately answered in verse 2 — help comes from God alone, not from the mountains, which some commentators note may have been sites of pagan worship.

The Theme of Guardianship

The repeated use of shomer (שׁוֹמֵר — guardian) across verses 3–8 is the psalm's heartbeat. It moves from the personal ("your guardian will not slumber") to the national ("Guardian of Israel") and back to the deeply personal ("guard your going and coming"). [Siddur Ashkenaz, Kriat Shema al HaMita 22] cites verse 4 — "He neither slumbers nor sleeps" — as a core expression of God's constant watchfulness.

Liturgical Uses

Recited as part of Shabbat evening prayers [Siddur Ashkenaz, Shalom Aleichem 6]
Used in the bedtime Shema (Kriat Shema al HaMita)
Recited on fast days (Ta'anit) as part of the special prayer service [Mishnah Ta'anit 2:3]
Traditionally said when traveling or when someone is in danger

A Song for the Defenseless

As Steinsaltz beautifully notes, this psalm is "intended for all, even those who might seem to be utterly defenseless. It contains words of reassurance and encouragement rather than prayer." [Steinsaltz Introductions to Tanakh, Psalms 121] — meaning it is not a petition but a declaration of faith.