Psalms 134 · The Lantern

A song of ascents. See, bless the LORD, all servants of the LORD, who stand in the house of the LORD in the nights.

Sitting we speak against others, but standing up we praise the Lord, as it is said; "Behold now, praise the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord; ye that stand in the house of the Lord." He who sits, to speak of the habit of the body, is, as it were, dissolved by ease, and relaxes the energy of his mind.

Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord. This is the last psalm of the Song of Ascents. The first of the gradual psalms had been: 'To the Lord, when I was in tribulation, I cried, and he heard me.' In the second he had climbed higher: 'I lifted up my eyes to the mountains.' In the third: 'I rejoiced in the things that were said to me.' In the fourth: 'To you I…

But notice what "Lift up" means: "Give alms more generously," for the Lord not only demands pious words from us, but also deeds. He added, "in the sanctuary," so that the hand of a Christian may produce the alms.

Bless the LORD, All You Servants

Lift up your hands to the sanctuary and bless the LORD.

May the LORD bless you from Zion, the maker of heaven and earth.

Psalms134

Bless the LORD, All You Servants