Psalm 124-126
Easy-to-Read Version
A song of David for going up to the Temple.
124 What would have happened to us if the Lord had not been on our side?
Tell us about it, Israel.
2 What would have happened to us if the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us?
3 They would have swallowed us alive
when they became angry with us.
4 Their armies would have been
like a flood washing over us,
like a river drowning us.
5 Those proud people would have been
like water rising up to our mouth and drowning us.
6 Praise the Lord!
He did not let our enemies tear us apart.
7 We escaped like a bird from the net of a hunter.
The net broke, and we escaped!
8 Our help came from the Lord,
the one who made heaven and earth!
A song for going up to the Temple.
125 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion.
They will never be shaken.
They will continue forever.
2 Like the mountains that surround Jerusalem,
the Lord surrounds and protects his people now and forever.
3 The wicked will not always control the land of those who do right.
If they did, even those who do right might start doing wrong.
4 Lord, be good to those who are good,
to those who have pure hearts.
5 But, Lord, when you punish those who do evil,
also punish those who have stopped following your way.
Let Israel always enjoy peace!
A song for going up to the Temple.
126 It will be like a dream
when the Lord comes back with the captives of Zion.[a]
2 We will laugh and sing happy songs!
Then the other nations will say,
“The Lord did a great thing for Zion!”
3 Yes, we will be happy
because the Lord did a great thing for us.
4 So, Lord, bring back the good times,
like a desert stream filled again with flowing water.
5 Then those who were sad when they planted
will be happy when they gather the harvest!
6 Those who cried as they carried the seeds[b]
will be happy when they bring in the crops!
Footnotes
- Psalm 126:1 when … Zion Or “when the Lord restores Zion.” See “Zion” in the Word List.
- Psalm 126:6 carried the seeds Or “carried all their possessions.”
Psalm 124-126
New International Version
Psalm 124
A song of ascents. Of David.
1 If the Lord had not been on our side—
let Israel say(A)—
2 if the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
3 they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
4 the flood(B) would have engulfed us,
the torrent(C) would have swept over us,
5 the raging waters
would have swept us away.
6 Praise be to the Lord,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;(D)
the snare has been broken,(E)
and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name(F) of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven(G) and earth.
Psalm 125
A song of ascents.
1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,(H)
which cannot be shaken(I) but endures forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,(J)
so the Lord surrounds(K) his people
both now and forevermore.
3 The scepter(L) of the wicked will not remain(M)
over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
their hands to do evil.(N)
4 Lord, do good(O) to those who are good,
to those who are upright in heart.(P)
5 But those who turn(Q) to crooked ways(R)
the Lord will banish(S) with the evildoers.
Peace be on Israel.(T)
Psalm 126
A song of ascents.
1 When the Lord restored(U) the fortunes of[a] Zion,
we were like those who dreamed.[b]
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,(V)
our tongues with songs of joy.(W)
Then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things(X) for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things(Y) for us,
and we are filled with joy.(Z)
Footnotes
- Psalm 126:1 Or Lord brought back the captives to
- Psalm 126:1 Or those restored to health
- Psalm 126:4 Or Bring back our captives
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