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Memorize Scripture

How to memorize Psalm 121

Psalm 121:1–8 is 8 verses. Learned a verse a day, a line at a time (15 lines in all), it takes about 11 days.

One of the "songs of ascents" sung by travelers going up to Jerusalem. It opens with a question and answers it; the rest is spoken as assurance to a fellow traveler. The word "keep" (or "watch over") repeats throughout.

Psalm 121 in 15 lines

Berean Standard Bible (public domain). Learn a verse by adding one line at a time.

  1. 121:1
    1. I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    2. From where does my help come?
  2. 121:2
    1. My help comes from the LORD,
    2. the Maker of heaven and earth.
  3. 121:3
    1. He will not allow your foot to slip;
    2. your Protector will not slumber.
  4. 121:4
    1. Behold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
  5. 121:5
    1. The LORD is your keeper;
    2. the LORD is the shade on your right hand.
  6. 121:6
    1. The sun will not strike you by day,
    2. nor the moon by night.
  7. 121:7
    1. The LORD will guard you from all evil;
    2. He will preserve your soul.
  8. 121:8
    1. The LORD will watch over your coming and going,
    2. both now and forevermore.

How to memorize it, five minutes a day

  1. One phrase at a time. Read the first phrase aloud twice. Cover it and say it. Uncover it and check every word.
  2. Add the next phrase only when the first comes easily, then say the two together. Keep joining until the verse is whole.
  3. Come back tomorrow and say it before you look. Rate yourself honestly: got it, needed help, or practise again.
  4. Space the reviews. Each time you recall it without help, wait longer before the next review: a day, three days, a week, a month.
  5. Say the whole passage once a week so the verses stay joined, not just memorized one by one.

King James Version

1I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 3He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. 8The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.