Psalm 121 · I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes
A Song of Degrees — the traveller’s Psalm, the household’s parting prayer for those on the road: the LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in.
KJV scripture foundation
Psalm 121 (KJV):
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Context
Psalm 121 is a Song of Degrees — one of fifteen Psalms (120-134) sung by Israel on the pilgrim road up to Jerusalem for the three great feasts. Traveller by traveller lifted eyes to the hills as they climbed toward Zion and its temple.
The Psalm is small — only eight verses — but complete. It opens with a question and answers it in its second verse; then repeats the word keep six times, letting the reader lean on it.
Reflection
The word keep in this Psalm is the same Hebrew root as the priestly benediction — The LORD bless thee, and keep thee (Numbers 6:24). To be kept by God is to be watched, guarded, preserved, in all directions at once.
Notice the LORD does not slumber and does not sleep. Israel’s God is never off duty. When the child sleeps in the household’s upstairs room, the LORD who made heaven and earth watches beside the bed.
The last verse is the household’s parting prayer: The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in.
Family application
Psalm 121 is the traveller’s Psalm. Every Christian household should pray it over:
- A child going to school for the first time.
- A father or mother leaving on a trip.
- A young adult moving out of the house.
- A grandparent going into the hospital.
- A missionary leaving for the field.
Memorize it whole. Eight verses can hide in the household’s heart forever.
Prayer
LORD who neither slumberest nor sleepest, keep every member of this household in every going out and in every coming in. Preserve our souls from all evil. Be our shade upon our right hand. From this time forth, and even for evermore. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Christian tradition
- Sung as an opening Psalm at the funeral rite in many Christian traditions — the “going out” that God preserves.
- A parting-blessing Psalm at the end of household prayers before travel.
- Set to music countless times — among the most beloved Psalms in the Psalter.
Related Atlas pages
Room connections
Where this entry meets the household in the wider house of CrossAIHub.
- Pray (Chapel) — pray Psalm 121 over travellers and the sick.
- Family (Kitchen Table) — the household’s parting Psalm.
- Kids (Kids Kingdom) — children pray it easily; it is short and pictorial.
- Read — Psalms — read Psalms 120-134 as the pilgrim season.
Further reading
Psalm 121 (KJV) — the whole Psalm.
Psalms 120-134 (KJV) — the Songs of Degrees.
Numbers 6:22-27 (KJV) — the priestly benediction using the same “keep” root.
Elsewhere in the Atlas
Continue Your Journey
Where else this page opens into the household library.