Psalm 126-130
Amplified Bible
Thanksgiving for Return from Captivity.
A Song of [a]Ascents.
126 When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion (Jerusalem),
We were like those who dream [it seemed so unreal].(A)
2
Then our mouth was filled with laughter
And our tongue with joyful shouting;
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3
The Lord has done great things for us;
We are glad!
4
Restore our [b]captivity, O Lord,
As the stream-beds in the South (the Negev) [are restored by torrents of rain].
5
They who sow in tears shall reap with joyful singing.
6
He who goes back and forth weeping, carrying his bag of seed [for planting],
Will indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
Prosperity Comes from the Lord.
A Song of [c]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 keeps awake in vain.(B)
2
It is vain for you to rise early,
To retire late,
To eat the bread of anxious labors—
For He gives [blessings] to His beloved even in his sleep.
3
Behold, children are a heritage and gift from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb a reward.(C)
4
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
5
How blessed [happy and fortunate] is the man whose quiver is filled with them;
They will not be ashamed
When they speak with their enemies [in gatherings] at the [city] gate.
Blessedness of the Fear of the Lord.
A Song of [d]Ascents.
128 Blessed [happy and sheltered by God’s favor] is everyone who fears the Lord [and worships Him with obedience],
Who walks in His ways and lives according to His commandments.(D)
2
For you shall eat the fruit of [the labor of] your hands,
You will be happy and blessed and it will be well with you.
3
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
Within the innermost part of your house;
Your children will be like olive plants
Around your table.
4
Behold, for so shall the man be blessed and divinely favored
Who fears the Lord [and worships Him with obedience].
5
May the Lord bless you from Zion [His holy mountain],
And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life;
6
Indeed, may you see your [family perpetuated in your] children’s children.
Peace be upon Israel!
Prayer for the Overthrow of Zion’s Enemies.
A Song of [e]Ascents.
129 “Many times they have persecuted me (Israel) from my youth,”
Let Israel now say,
2
“Many times they have persecuted me from my youth,
Yet they have not prevailed against me.
3
“The [enemies, like] plowers plowed on my back;
They made their furrows [of suffering] long [in Israel].”
4
The Lord is righteous;
He has cut in two the [thick] cords of the wicked [which enslaved the people of Israel].
5
May all who hate Zion
Be put to shame and turned backward [in defeat].
6
Let them be like the grass on the housetops,
Which withers before it grows up,
7
With which the reaper does not fill his hand,
Nor the binder of sheaves his arms,
8
Nor do those who pass by say,
“The blessing of the Lord be upon you;
We bless you in the name of the Lord.”
Hope in the Lord’s Forgiving Love.
A Song of [f]Ascents.
130 Out of the [g]depths [of distress] I have cried to You, O Lord.
2
Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.
3
If You, Lord, should keep an account of our sins and treat us accordingly,
O Lord, who could stand [before you in judgment and claim innocence]?(E)
4
But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared and worshiped [with submissive wonder].(F)
5
I wait [patiently] for the Lord, my soul [expectantly] waits,
And in His word do I hope.
6
My soul waits for the Lord
More than the watchmen for the morning;
More than the watchmen for the morning.
7
O Israel, hope in the Lord;
For with the Lord there is lovingkindness,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
8
And He will redeem Israel
From all his sins.
Footnotes
- Psalm 126:1 See Psalm 120 title note.
- Psalm 126:4 I.e. the remaining exiles.
- Psalm 127:1 See Psalm 120 title note.
- Psalm 128:1 See Psalm 120 title note.
- Psalm 129:1 See Psalm 120 title note.
- Psalm 130:1 See Psalm 120 title note.
- Psalm 130:1 The Psalmist probably used “depths” figuratively, but the ancient rabbis understood this as an admonition to pray from a low place (in elevation) as a matter of humility.
Psalm 126-130
New International Version
Psalm 126
A song of ascents.
1 When the Lord restored(A) the fortunes of[a] Zion,
we were like those who dreamed.[b]
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,(B)
our tongues with songs of joy.(C)
Then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things(D) for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things(E) for us,
and we are filled with joy.(F)
4 Restore our fortunes,[c](G) Lord,
like streams in the Negev.(H)
5 Those who sow with tears(I)
will reap(J) with songs of joy.(K)
6 Those who go out weeping,(L)
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them.
Psalm 127
A song of ascents. Of Solomon.
1 Unless the Lord builds(M) the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches(N) over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
2 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food(O) to eat—
for he grants sleep(P) to[d] those he loves.(Q)
3 Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward(R) from him.
4 Like arrows(S) in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.(T)
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponents(U) in court.(V)
Psalm 128
A song of ascents.
1 Blessed are all who fear the Lord,(W)
who walk in obedience to him.(X)
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;(Y)
blessings and prosperity(Z) will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine(AA)
within your house;
your children(AB) will be like olive shoots(AC)
around your table.
4 Yes, this will be the blessing(AD)
for the man who fears the Lord.(AE)
5 May the Lord bless you from Zion;(AF)
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem(AG)
all the days of your life.
6 May you live to see your children’s children—(AH)
peace be on Israel.(AI)
Psalm 129
A song of ascents.
1 “They have greatly oppressed(AJ) me from my youth,”(AK)
let Israel say;(AL)
2 “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
but they have not gained the victory(AM) over me.
3 Plowmen have plowed my back
and made their furrows long.
4 But the Lord is righteous;(AN)
he has cut me free(AO) from the cords of the wicked.”(AP)
5 May all who hate Zion(AQ)
be turned back in shame.(AR)
6 May they be like grass on the roof,(AS)
which withers(AT) before it can grow;
7 a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,(AU)
nor one who gathers fill his arms.
8 May those who pass by not say to them,
“The blessing of the Lord be on you;
we bless you(AV) in the name of the Lord.”
Psalm 130
A song of ascents.
1 Out of the depths(AW) I cry to you,(AX) Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice.(AY)
Let your ears be attentive(AZ)
to my cry for mercy.(BA)
3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?(BB)
4 But with you there is forgiveness,(BC)
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.(BD)
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
- Psalm 127:2 Or eat— / for while they sleep he provides for
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