I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.
Parallel translations
- KJV I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
- BSB I am in favor of peace; but when I speak, they want war.
- NKJV I am for peace; But when I speak, they are for war.
- NASB I am for peace, but when I speak, They are for war.
- NLT I search for peace; but when I speak of peace, they want war!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
He is for peace, but when he speaks they are for war. A peacemaker can meet hostility from those bent on conflict.
Overview
The psalmist identifies himself wholly with peace ('I am for peace'), yet his very words provoke others to war. The contrast exposes the wickedness of those who reject reconciliation. This experience anticipates Christ, who came preaching peace yet was met with opposition, and who calls His people to be peacemakers.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Matt 5:9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
- Ps 109:4In return for my love, they are my adversaries; but I am in prayer.
- Ps 34:14Depart from evil, and do good. seek peace, and pursue it.
- Heb 12:14Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord,
- Rom 12:18If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.
- Ps 35:20For they don’t speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.
- Eph 2:14–17For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition,
- 2 Sam 20:19I am among those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up Yahweh’s inheritance?”
- 1 Sam 26:2–4Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
- 1 Sam 24:9–11David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you?’
- Ps 55:20He raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 120:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.