Psalm 126-129

Psalm 126-129 New King James Version

 

A Joyful Return to Zion

A Song of Ascents.

126 When the Lord brought back ^[a]the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
² Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the ^[b]nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
³ The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.

⁴ Bring back our captivity, O Lord,
As the streams in the South.

⁵ Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
⁶ He who continually goes ^[c]forth weeping,
Bearing ^[d]seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again ^[e]with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.

Laboring and Prospering with the Lord

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.

127 Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
² It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.

³ Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
⁴ Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
⁵ Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Blessings of Those Who Fear the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

128 Blessed is every one who fears the Lord,
Who walks in His ways.

² When you eat the ^[f]labor of your hands,
You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
³ Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
In the very heart of your house,
Your children like olive plants
All around your table.
⁴ Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the Lord.

⁵ The Lord bless you out of Zion,
And may you see the good of Jerusalem
All the days of your life.
⁶ Yes, may you see your children’s children.

Peace be upon Israel!

Song of Victory over Zion’s Enemies

A Song of Ascents.

129 “Many a time they have afflicted^[g] me from my youth,”
Let Israel now say—
² “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth;
Yet they have not prevailed against me.
³ The plowers plowed on my back;
They made their furrows long.”
⁴ The Lord is righteous;
He has cut in pieces the cords of the wicked.

⁵ Let all those who hate Zion
Be put to shame and turned back.
⁶ Let them be as the grass on the housetops,
Which withers before it grows up,
⁷ With which the reaper does not fill his hand,
Nor he who binds sheaves, his ^[h]arms.
⁸ Neither let those who pass by them say,
“The blessing of the Lord be upon you;
We bless you in the name of the Lord!”