126 When Jehovah brought back those that returned to Zion,
We were like unto them that dream.
² Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing:
Then said they among the nations,
Jehovah hath done great things for them.
³ Jehovah hath done great things for us,
Whereof we are glad.
⁴ Turn again our captivity, O Jehovah,
As the streams in the South.
⁵ They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
⁶ He that goeth forth and weepeth, ^[a]bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

127 Except Jehovah build the house,
They labor in vain that build it:
Except Jehovah keep the city,
The watchman waketh but in vain.
² It is vain for you to rise up early,
To take rest late,
To eat the bread of toil;
For so he giveth unto his beloved ^[b]sleep.
³ Lo, children are a heritage of Jehovah;
And the fruit of the womb is his reward.
⁴ As arrows in the hand of a mighty man,
So are the children of youth.
⁵ Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them:
They shall not be put to shame,
When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

128 Blessed is every one that feareth Jehovah,
That walketh in his ways.
² For thou shalt eat the labor of thy hands:
Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
³ Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine,
In the innermost parts of thy house;
Thy children like olive plants,
Round about thy table.
⁴ Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
That feareth Jehovah.
⁵ Jehovah bless thee out of Zion:
And see thou the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
⁶ Yea, see thou thy children’s children.
^[c]Peace be upon Israel.

^[d]129 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth up,
Let Israel now say,
^2 [e]Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth up:
Yet they have not prevailed against me.
³ The plowers plowed upon my back;
They made long their furrows.
⁴ Jehovah is righteous:
He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
⁵ Let them be put to shame and turned backward,
All they that hate Zion.
⁶ Let them be as the grass upon the housetops,
Which withereth before it ^[f]groweth up;
⁷ Wherewith the reaper filleth not his hand,
Nor he that bindeth sheaves, his bosom:
⁸ Neither do they that go by say,
The blessing of Jehovah be upon you;
We bless you in the name of Jehovah.

130 Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Jehovah.
² Lord, hear my voice:
Let thine ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.
³ If thou, ^[g]Jehovah, shouldest mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But there is forgiveness with thee,
That thou mayest be feared.
⁵ I wait for Jehovah, my soul doth wait,
And in his word do I hope.
⁶ My soul waiteth for the Lord
More than watchmen wait for the morning;
Yea, more than watchmen for the morning.
⁷ O Israel, hope in Jehovah;
For with Jehovah there is lovingkindness,
And with him is plenteous redemption.
⁸ And he will redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.