Editing Song of Ascents

{{short description|Title given to fifteen of the Psalms}}
[[Image:Song of Ascents.jpg|thumb|250px|One of the Songs of Ascents, Psalm 122 appears in Hebrew on the walls at the entrance to the [[City of David (Silwan)|City of David]], Jerusalem.]]

'''Song of Ascents''' is a title given to fifteen of the [[Psalms]], 120–134 (119–133 in the [[Septuagint]] and the [[Vulgate]]), each starting with the [[Psalms#Superscriptions|superscription]] "Shir Hama'aloth" ({{langx|he|שיר המעלות|šir ham-ma‘loṯ|Song of the Ascents}}), or, in the case of [[Psalm 121]], Shir Lama'aloth ({{langx|he|שיר למעלות|šir lama‘loṯ|a song on the ascents}}). They are also variously called '''Gradual Psalms''', '''Fifteen Psalms''', '''Songs of Degrees''', '''Songs of Steps''', '''songs for going up to worship''' or '''Pilgrim Songs'''.

Four of them (Psalms [[Psalm 122|122]], [[Psalm 124|124]], [[Psalm 131|131]], and [[Psalm 133|133]]) are linked in their ascriptions to [[David]], and one ([[Psalm 127|127]]) to [[Solomon]]. Three of them (Psalms 131, 133, and [[Psalm 134|134]]) have only three verses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.etzion.org.il/en/shiur-08-psalm-117-%E2%80%9Co-praise-lord-all-you-nations%E2%80%9D-shortest-psalm-book-tehillim|title=Shiur #08: Psalm 117 - 'O Praise The Lord, All You Nations' The Shortest Psalm in the Book of Tehillim|first=Rav Elchanan|last=Samet|year=2018|access-date=September 16, 2018|publisher=Yeshivat Har Etzion|archive-date=September 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914060713/https://www.etzion.org.il/en/shiur-08-psalm-117-%E2%80%9Co-praise-lord-all-you-nations%E2%80%9D-shortest-psalm-book-tehillim|url-status=dead}}</ref> The longest is [[Psalm 132]] (18 verses).

A chiastic structure is seen by many in these Psalms with  Psalm 127 a Psalm of Solomon as center. Preceded and succeeded by seven Psalms of ascent, each side adorned with 24 occurrences of 'Yahweh,' a numerical symmetry evoking divine significance.<ref name="Psalms, O. Palmer Robertson 2015">The Flow of the Psalms, O. Palmer Robertson, P&R Publishing, 2015, {{ISBN|978-1-62995-133-1}}, pp. 232–233</ref>

12 of the 15 Psalms, excluding Psalm 127, echo phrases from the priestly blessing, 'The Lord keep you and bless you; may His face shine upon you,' except for the unusual omission of 'make His face shine upon you'.<ref name="Psalms, O. Palmer Robertson 2015"/>

The centrality of Psalm 127, attributed to Solomon, the builder of God's 'house,' resonates as pilgrims sing these Psalms on their journey to the sacred dwelling. The pilgrimage begins with references to locations north and south of Israel, depicting distance from the temple in Psalm 120, concluding with a blessing for temple night-shift servants in Psalm 134. This nuanced symphony of balance, priestly blessings, and geographical references invites scholarly contemplation.

==History==
Many scholars believe the title indicates that these psalms were sung by worshippers as they ascended the road to [[Jerusalem]] to attend the [[Three Pilgrimage Festivals]]<ref name=Zenger>{{cite book |last1=Hossfeld |first1=Frank-Lothar |last2=Zenger |first2=Erich |date=2011 |title=Psalms 3: A Commentary on Psalms 101-150 |url=https://archive.org/details/psalms3commentar0000unse/page/293 |location=Minneapolis |publisher=Fortress Press |pages=[https://archive.org/details/psalms3commentar0000unse/page/293 293–294] |isbn=978-0800607623 }}</ref> ({{bibleverse||Deuteronomy|16:16|HE}}). Others think they were sung by the [[Levite]] singers as they ascended the fifteen steps to minister at the [[Temple in Jerusalem]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Liebreich |first=Leon |date=1955 |title=The Songs of Ascents and the Priestly Blessing |journal=Journal of Biblical Literature |volume=74 |issue=1 |pages=33–34 |doi=10.2307/3261952 |jstor=3261952 }} {{Citation |last =Nassar | first =Seraphim | year =1938 | publication-date=1979 | title =Divine Prayers and Services of the Catholic Orthodox Church of Christ | edition=3rd | pages =1086–7 | place =Englewood NJ | publisher =[[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]]}}</ref> One view says the Levites first sang the Songs at the dedication of Solomon's temple during the night of the fifteenth of Tishri 959 BC.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mitchell |first=D.C. |date=2015 |title=The Songs of Ascents: Psalms 120 to 134 in the Worship of Jerusalem's Temples |url=https://www.sites.google.com/site/brightmorningstar624/home/the-songs-of-ascents |location=Newton Mearns |publisher=Campbell-Bright Morning Star |isbn=978-1508745358 |access-date=7 May 2015 |archive-date=18 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618101159/https://sites.google.com/site/brightmorningstar624/home/the-songs-of-ascents |url-status=dead }}</ref> Another study suggests that they were composed for a celebration after [[Nehemiah]]'s rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls in 445 BC.<ref>{{cite book |last=Goulder |first=Michael Douglas |date=1998 |title=The Psalms of the Return (Book V. Psalms 107-150) |location=Edinburgh|publisher=Bloomsbury T & T Clark |isbn=978-1850758662}}</ref> Others consider that they may originally have been individual poems which were later collected together and given the title linking them to pilgrimage after the [[Babylonian captivity]].<ref name=Zenger />

They were well suited for being sung by their poetic form and the sentiments they express. "They are characterized by brevity, by a key-word, by [[Glossary of rhetoric terms|epanaphora]] [''i.e.'', repetition], and by their [[epigram]]matic style.... More than half of them are cheerful, and all of them hopeful."<ref>{{cite web|title=Easton's Bible Dictionary|last=Easton|first=M. G.|url=http://eastonsbibledictionary.org/1007-Degrees_Song_of.php|date=1897|access-date=3 February 2015|publisher=T. Nelson and Sons}}</ref> As a collection, they contain a number of repeated formulaic phrases, as well as an emphasis on Zion.<ref>{{cite book |last=Crow |first=Loren D. |date=1996 |title=The Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134): Their Place in Israelite History and Religion |location=Atlanta |publisher=Scholar's Press |pages=26–27 |isbn=978-0788502194 }}</ref>

The [[Great Psalms Scroll]] (11Q5), one of the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] written between {{CE|30-50}}, contains a set of psalms partially coincident with the canonical Psalms. Most of the canonical psalms it contains are in a different order than in Psalms, but the Songs of Ascents are included in full in their canonical order.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls|last = Schiffman|first = Lawrence|publisher = Oxford UP|year = 2000|location = New York}}</ref>

==Judaism==
[[File:Shear Yashuv Cohen at Signing of the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty (1994).webm|thumb|[[She'ar Yashuv Cohen]] reading [[Psalm 121]] at [[Israel–Jordan peace treaty]] ceremony]]

===Historical===
There are two references to the Songs of Ascents in the [[Mishnah]], noting the correspondence between the fifteen songs and the temple's fifteen steps between the Israelite's court and the women's court.<ref>Sukkah 5:4; Middot 2:5</ref> [[Rashi]] refers to a Talmudic legend that King David composed or sang the fifteen songs to calm rising waters at the foundation of the temple.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gruber |first=Mayer I. |date=2007 |title=Rashi's Commentary on Psalms|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nsl2NrA6v6gC&q=Rashi’s+Commentary+on+Psalms |location=Philadelphia |publisher=Jewish Publication Society |page=698 |isbn=978-0827608726 |access-date=7 May 2015 }}</ref>

===Present day===
[[Psalm 126]], eponymously called "''Shir Hamaalot''" due to its common use, is traditionally recited by Ashkenazim before the [[Birkat Hamazon|Grace After Meals]] on [[Shabbat]], [[Jewish holidays]], and other [[Seudat mitzvah|festive occasions]] in keeping with its themes of joy and redemption.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=etK8tgEACAAJ&q=126|title=The Complete Artscroll Siddur|first=Rabbi Nosson|last=Scherman|year=2003|publisher=[[Artscroll|Mesorah Publications, Ltd.]]|isbn=9780899066509|edition=3rd|page=183}}</ref> The psalm is sung to a wide variety of tunes both liturgical and secular.

It is traditional for some Jews to place a copy of [[Psalm 121]] in the labor and delivery room to promote an easy labor by asking God for mercy. As well, it is placed on the baby's carriage and in the baby's room to protect the child and surround them in learning and with holy objects.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sichosinenglish.org/books/healthy-in-body-mind-and-spirit-2/41.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070504071551/http://www.sichosinenglish.org/books/healthy-in-body-mind-and-spirit-2/41.htm|url-status=dead|title=Shir HaMaalos in the Hospital from Sichos in English|archivedate=May 4, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.askmoses.com/en/article/567,2064325/Why-do-people-place-the-Shir-Hamaalot-Psalm-near-a-babys-crib.html|title=Why do people place the "Shir Hamaalot" Psalm near a baby's crib? - life cycle birth the laws|website=Askmoses.com|access-date=19 May 2018|archive-date=18 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118090530/http://www.askmoses.com/en/article/567,2064325/Why-do-people-place-the-Shir-Hamaalot-Psalm-near-a-babys-crib.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The 15 chapter are recited in some communities following [[Mincha]] on Shabbat afternoon in the winter.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/completeservicef0000unse|title=The Complete Artscroll Siddur|first=Rabbi Nosson|last=Scherman|year=1987|publisher=[[Artscroll|Mesorah Publications, Ltd.]]|isbn=9780899066509|edition=2nd|page=530-543}}</ref>

[[Psalm 128]] is recited in some communities in [[Maariv]] at the conclusion of the Sabbath.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/completeservicef0000unse|title=The Complete Artscroll Siddur|first=Rabbi Nosson|last=Scherman|year=1987|publisher=[[Artscroll|Mesorah Publications, Ltd.]]|isbn=9780899066509|edition=2nd|page=608-609}}</ref>

==Christian liturgy==
The [[liturgy|liturgical]] use of these psalms came into Christianity through its Jewish roots. The form of the [[Hebrew Bible]] used in [[early Christianity]] was primarily the [[Septuagint]]. In the Septuagint, these psalms are numbered 119&ndash;133.

Many early [[hermit]]s observed the practice of reciting the entire [[Psalter]] daily, [[cenobitic monasticism|cenobites]] communities would chant the entire Psalter in a week, so these psalms would be said regularly, during the [[canonical hours]].

===Eastern Christianity===
In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] and those [[Eastern Catholic Churches]] which follow the [[Byzantine Rite]], the Songs of Degrees ([[Greek language|Greek]]: ''anabathmoi'') make up the Eighteenth [[Kathisma]] (division of the Psalter), and are read on Friday evenings at [[Vespers]] throughout the [[liturgical year]]. The Kathisma is divided into three sections (called ''stases'') of five psalms each.

During [[Great Lent]] the Eighteenth Kathisma is read every weekday (Monday through Friday evening) at Vespers, and on Monday through Wednesday of [[Holy Week]]. In the [[Russian Orthodox Church|Slavic usage]] this Kathisma is also read from the [[Afterfeast|apodosis]] of the [[Exaltation of the Cross]] up to the [[forefeast]] of the [[Christmas|Nativity of Christ]], and from the apodosis of [[Epiphany (holiday)|Theophany]] up to the [[Sunday of the Prodigal Son]]. The reason for this is that the nights are longer in winter, especially in the northern latitudes, so during this season three Kathismata will be chanted at Matins instead of two, so in order to still have a reading from the Psalter at Vespers, the Eighteenth Kathisma is repeated.

====Anabathmoi====

At [[Matins]] on Sundays and [[feast day]]s throughout the year, special hymns called ''anabathmoi'' ({{langx|el|ἀναβαθμοί}}, from βαθμός, 'step'; [[Church Slavonic|Slavonic]]: ''stepénny'') are chanted immediately before the [[prokeimenon]] and [[Matins Gospel]]. These anabathmoi are compositions based upon the Songs of Ascents, and are written in the [[eight tones]] of [[Byzantine chant]]. The Anabathmoi for each tone consists of three ''stases'' or sets of verses (sometimes called [[antiphon]]s), except for Tone 8 which has four stases. On Sundays, the anabathmoi are chanted according to the tone of the week; on feast days which do not fall on Sunday, the Anabathmoi almost always consist of the first stasis in Tone 4 (based on Psalm 128).<ref>{{Citation
 | last1 =Kallistos (Ware)
 | first1 =Archimandrite
 | author-link =Timothy Ware
 | last2=Mary
 | first2=Mother
 | year =1969
 | publication-date=1984
 | title =The Festal Menaion
 | page =549
 | place =London
 | publisher =[[Faber and Faber]]
 | isbn =978-0-571-11137-4
 }}
</ref>

Symbolically, the anabathmoi are chanted as a reminder that Christians are ascending to the [[Heavenly Jerusalem]], and that the spiritual intensity of the service is rising as they approach the reading of the [[Gospel]].<ref name="Nassar">{{Citation
 | last =Nassar
 | first =Seraphim
 | year =1938
 | publication-date=1979
 | title =Divine Prayers and Services of the Catholic Orthodox Church of Christ
 | edition=3rd
 | pages =1086–7
 | place =Englewood NJ
 | publisher =[[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]]
 }}
</ref>

===Western Christianity===
The Western [[Daily Office]] was strongly influenced by the [[Rule of Saint Benedict]], where these psalms are assigned to [[Terce]], [[Sext]] and [[Nones (liturgy)|Nones]] on weekdays. Over the centuries, however, various schedules have been used for reciting the psalms. Among the laity, the devotion of the Fifteen Psalms was adopted within [[primer (prayer book)|primer prayer books]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12425a.htm|title=Catholic Encyclopedia|chapter=The Primer|author=[[Herbert Thurston|Thurston, Herbert]] |volume=12|date=1911|location=[[New York City]]|publisher=Robert Appleton Company|via=NewAdvent.org}}</ref>

In the arrangement used in the Roman Rite until 1911, Psalms 119–132 are said at [[Vespers]], from Monday to Thursday, and Psalm 133 was one of the four Psalms said every day at [[Compline]]. After the reform by [[Pope Pius X]] in 1911, and continuing in the later reform by [[Pope John XXIII]] in 1960, these psalms remained at Vespers, but not always on the same day as previously. Psalm 133 was said at [[Compline]] only on Sundays and major feasts. The 1960 reform is still in use as the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

In the modern [[Liturgy of the Hours]] of the [[Catholic Church]], the Gradual Psalms are used in several ways:
* Psalms 120–127 and 129–131 are scheduled throughout the four-week Psalter for use at Vespers; 119, 128, and 132 are scheduled for use for [[Little Hours#Reform|Daytime Prayer]], and 133 is scheduled for Night Prayer.
* Psalms 119–127 are broken into three parts, to be used as the complementary Psalmody for those who pray three daytime offices separately as Terce, Sext, and None, rather than one office of Daytime Prayer.
* They are used as the sole Psalmody at daytime prayer on [[solemnity|solemnities]], except for certain solemnities of the Lord and during the [[octave of Easter]] and those solemnities falling on Sunday.<ref>{{Citation |contribution=Plan for the Distribution of the Psalms in the Office |date=February 2, 1971 |title=General Instruction for the Liturgy of the Hours |publisher=The Catholic Liturgical Library |url=http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/documentText/Index/2/SubIndex/39/ContentIndex/27/Start/2 |access-date=2008-05-18}}
</ref>

== Text ==
"(1) A Song of Ascents. I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: From whence shall my help come? (2) My help cometh from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. (3) He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; He that keepeth thee will not slumber. (4) Behold, He that keepeth Israel Doth neither slumber nor sleep. (5) The LORD is thy keeper; The LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. (6) The sun shall not smite thee by day, Nor the moon by night. (7) The LORD shall keep thee from all evil; He shall keep thy soul. (8) The LORD shall guard thy going out and thy coming in, From this time forth and for ever."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shir Lama'alot שִׁיר לַמַּעֲלוֹת {{!}} Sefaria |url=https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/2733.6?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=www.sefaria.org}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Song of Ascents}}
*[http://zemirotdatabase.org/view_song.php?id=112 Recordings of musical settings, hebrew text, translation, transliteration on The Zemirot Database]
* The [http://tehillim-online.com/psalms-of-david/Tehillim-126 psalm 126] is translated on this website of [http://tehillim-online.com Tehillim] (Psalms in Hebrew)

{{Psalms}}
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[[Category:Catholic liturgy]]
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