Psa 125:5 | NETfull | STEP | As for those who are bent on traveling a sinful path, may the Lord remove them, along with those who behave wickedly! May Israel experience peace! A song of ascents.

Psalms 125:5

As for those who are bent on traveling a sinful path, ^{▼▼ Heb “and the ones making their paths twisted.” A sinful lifestyle is compared to a twisting, winding road.}
may the Lord remove them, ^{▼▼ Heb “lead them away.” The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive of prayer here (note the prayers directly before and after this). Another option is to translate, “the Lord will remove them” (cf. NIV, NRSV).} along with those who behave wickedly! ^{▼▼ Heb “the workers of wickedness.”}
May Israel experience peace! ^{▼▼ Heb “peace [be] upon Israel.” The statement is understood as a prayer (see Ps 122:8 for a similar prayer for peace).}

Psalm 126

^{▼▼ Psalm 126. Recalling the joy of past deliverance, God’s covenant community asks for a fresh display of God’s power and confidently anticipate their sorrow being transformed into joy.}

A song of ascents.

5 ^{▼▼ The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120–134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101–150 (WBC), 219-21.}