Bifolium from a Book of Hours (c. 1450-1475, Troyes)
Psalms 121, 122, 123, 124

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth

The text in Latin from Psalm 121

Hierusalem quae aedificatur ut civitas cuius par ticipatio eius in id ipsum. Illic enim ascenderunt tribus tribus Domini testimonium Israel ad confitendum nomini Domini. Quia illic sederunt sedes in iudicium sedes super domum David. Rogate quae ad pacem sunt Hierusalem et abundantia diligentibus te. Fiat pax in virtute tua et abundantia in turribus tuis/ Propter fratres meos et proximos meos loquebar pacem de te. Propter domum Domini Dei nostri quaesivi bona tibi.

Jerusalem, which is built as a city, which is compact together. For thither did the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord: the testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord. Because their seats have sat in judgment, seats upon the house of David. Pray ye for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem: and abundance for them that love thee. Let peace be in thy strength: and abundance in thy towers. For the sake of my brethren, and of my neighbours, I spoke peace of thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I have sought good things for thee (English translation).

Psalm 122

Ad te levavi oculos meos qui habitas in caelo. Ecce sicut oculi servorum in manibus dominorum suorum sicut oculi ancillae in manibus dominae eius ita oculi nostri ad Dominum Deum nostrum donec misereatur nostri. Miserere nostri Domine miserere nostri quia multum repleti sumus despectione. Quia multum repleta est anima nostra obprobrium abundantibus et despectio superbis.

To thee have I lifted up my eyes, who dwellest in heaven. Behold as the eyes of the servants are on the hands of their masters, As the eyes of the handmaid are on the hands of her mistress: so are our eyes unto the Lord our God, until he have mercy on us. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us: for we are greatly filled with contempt. For our soul is greatly filled: we are a reproach to the rich, and contempt to the proud (English translation)

Psalm 123

Nisi quia Dominus erat in nobis dicat nunc Israel. Nisi quia Dominus erat in nobis cum exsurgerent in nos homines. Forte vivos degluttissent nos cum irasceretur furor eorum in nos. Forsitan aqua absorbuisset nos. Torrentem pertransivit anima nostra forsitan pertransisset anima nostra aquam intolerabilem. Benedictus Dominus qui non dedit nos in captionem dentibus eorum. Anima nostra sicut passer erepta est de laqueo venantium laqueus contritus est et nos liberati sumus. Adiutorium nostrum in nomine Domini qui fecit caelum et terram.

If it had not been that the Lord was with us, let Israel now say: If it had not been that the Lord was with us, when men rose up against us perhaps they had swallowed us up alive. When their fury was enkindled against us, perhaps the waters had swallowed us up. Our soul hath passed through a torrent: perhaps our soul had passed through a water insupportable. Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us to be a prey to their teeth. Our soul hath been delivered as a sparrow out of the snare of the followers. The snare is broken, and we are delivered. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth (English translation).

From beginning of Psalm 124:

Qui confidunt in Domino sicut mons Sion non commovebitur in aeternum qui habitat In Hierusalem.

They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion: he shall not be moved for ever that dwelleth in Jerusalem (English translation).

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