Psalms 121:4 (DRB)

Passage

For thither did the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord: the testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord.

Nearby Context

Psalms 121:2 Our feet were standing in thy courts, O Jerusalem.

Psalms 121:3 Jerusalem, which is built as a city, which is compact together.

Psalms 121:4 For thither did the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord: the testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord.

Psalms 121:5 Because their seats have sat in judgment, seats upon the house of David.

Psalms 121:6 Pray ye for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem: and abundance for them that love thee.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "thither", "tribes", "lord", "testimony", "israel", "praise", and "name". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "thither" and "tribes", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "Jerusalem which is built as a city..." into verse 5's "Because their seats have sat in judgment...", so "thither" and "tribes" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "thither" and "tribes" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.