1A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?2My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.4Behold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.5The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is the shade on your right hand.6The sun will not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.7The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul.8The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.
What’s happening. One of the “Songs of Ascents” (Psalms 120 to 134), sung by pilgrims walking up to Jerusalem for the festivals. The hills on the road could hide bandits and dangers.
What it means. The pilgrim looks at the hills and asks where help will come from. The answer is the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. He never falls asleep on the job. It is a traveller’s psalm about God’s constant, watchful care over all of life’s journeys.