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Psalm 126-128
New King James Version
Psalm 126-128
New King James Version
A Joyful Return to Zion
A Song of Ascents.
126 When (A)the Lord brought back [a]the captivity of Zion,
(B)We were like those who dream.
2 Then (C)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 (D)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 (E)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 (F)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 (G)eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.
3 Behold, (H)children are a heritage from the Lord,
(I)The fruit of the womb is a (J)reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
5 (K)Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
(L)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 (M)is every one who fears the Lord,
Who walks in His ways.
2 (N)When you eat the [f]labor of your hands,
You shall be happy, and it shall be (O)well with you.
3 Your wife shall be (P)like a fruitful vine
In the very heart of your house,
Your (Q)children (R)like olive plants
All around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the Lord.
5 (S)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 (T)see your children’s children.
(U)Peace be upon Israel!
Footnotes
- Psalm 126:1 Those of the captivity
- Psalm 126:2 Gentiles
- Psalm 126:6 to and fro
- Psalm 126:6 Lit. a bag of seed for sowing
- Psalm 126:6 with shouts of joy
- Psalm 128:2 Fruit of the labor
Psalm 126-128
New International Version
Psalm 126-128
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)
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
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.