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Psalm 126-130
New Life Version
Psalm 126-130
New Life Version
A Prayer for Help
126 It was like a dream when the Lord brought back to Zion those who had been held in another land. 2 Then we laughed with our mouths, and we sang with our tongues. Then it was said among the 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 people, O Lord, like the rivers in the South. 5 Those who plant with tears will gather fruit with songs of joy. 6 He who goes out crying as he carries his bag of seed will return with songs of joy as he brings much grain with him.
God Is Good to His People
127 Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders work for nothing. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the men who watch over it stay awake for nothing. 2 You rise up early, and go to bed late, and work hard for your food, all for nothing. For the Lord gives to His loved ones even while they sleep.
3 See, children are a gift from the Lord. The children born to us are our special reward. 4 The children of a young man are like arrows in the hand of a soldier. 5 Happy is the man who has many of them. They will not be put to shame when they speak in the gate with those who hate them.
The Joy of Obeying
128 Happy are all who honor the Lord with fear, and who walk in His ways. 2 For you will eat the fruit of your hands. You will be happy and it will be well with you. 3 Your wife will be like a vine with much fruit within your house. Your children will be like olive plants around your table. 4 This is the good that will come to the man who honors the Lord with fear.
5 May the Lord do good things for you from Zion. And may you see good come to Jerusalem all the days of your life. 6 Yes, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel.
A Prayer against All Who Hate Zion
129 “They have made it hard for me many times since I was young,” let Israel now say. 2 “They have made it hard for me many times since I was young. But they have not won over me. 3 Those who plow have plowed my back. And they have made their ditches long.” 4 The Lord is right and good. He has cut in two the ropes of the sinful.
5 May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned away. 6 Let them be like grass on the roof, which dries up before it grows. 7 No one can pick it and fill his hand. No one can gather it and fill his arms. 8 And those who pass by do not say, “May the Lord be good to you. We pray that good will come to you in the name of the Lord.”
A Prayer for Help
130 O Lord, I have cried to You out of the deep places. 2 Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears hear the voice of my prayers. 3 If you, Lord, should write down our sins, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But You are the One Who forgives, so You are honored with fear.
5 I wait for the Lord. My soul waits and I hope in His Word. 6 My soul waits for the Lord more than one who watches for the morning; yes, more than one who watches for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the Lord! For there is loving-kindness with the Lord. With Him we are saved for sure. 8 And He will save Israel from all their sins.
Psalm 126-130
New International Version
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
Psalm 126-130
King James Version
Psalm 126-130
King James Version
126 When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.
3 The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
4 Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south.
5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
127 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but 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 giveth his beloved sleep.
3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
128 Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.
2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.
5 The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.
129 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:
2 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.
3 The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.
4 The Lord is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
5 Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.
6 Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:
7 Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.
8 Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we bless you in the name of the Lord.
130 Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.
2 Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
3 If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
7 Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
New Life Version (NLV)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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