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The Joy of Obeying

128 Happy are all who honor the Lord with fear, and who walk in His ways. For you will eat the fruit of your hands. You will be happy and it will be well with you. Your wife will be like a vine with much fruit within your house. Your children will be like olive plants around your table. This is the good that will come to the man who honors the Lord with fear.

May the Lord do good things for you from Zion. And may you see good come to Jerusalem all the days of your life. 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. “They have made it hard for me many times since I was young. But they have not won over me. Those who plow have plowed my back. And they have made their ditches long.” The Lord is right and good. He has cut in two the ropes of the sinful.

May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned away. Let them be like grass on the roof, which dries up before it grows. No one can pick it and fill his hand. No one can gather it and fill his arms. 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. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears hear the voice of my prayers. If you, Lord, should write down our sins, O Lord, who could stand? But You are the One Who forgives, so You are honored with fear.

I wait for the Lord. My soul waits and I hope in His Word. My soul waits for the Lord more than one who watches for the morning; yes, more than one who watches for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord! For there is loving-kindness with the Lord. With Him we are saved for sure. And He will save Israel from all their sins.

Psalm 128

A song of ascents.

Blessed are all who fear the Lord,(A)
    who walk in obedience to him.(B)
You will eat the fruit of your labor;(C)
    blessings and prosperity(D) will be yours.
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine(E)
    within your house;
your children(F) will be like olive shoots(G)
    around your table.
Yes, this will be the blessing(H)
    for the man who fears the Lord.(I)

May the Lord bless you from Zion;(J)
    may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem(K)
    all the days of your life.
May you live to see your children’s children—(L)
    peace be on Israel.(M)

Psalm 129

A song of ascents.

“They have greatly oppressed(N) me from my youth,”(O)
    let Israel say;(P)
“they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
    but they have not gained the victory(Q) over me.
Plowmen have plowed my back
    and made their furrows long.
But the Lord is righteous;(R)
    he has cut me free(S) from the cords of the wicked.”(T)

May all who hate Zion(U)
    be turned back in shame.(V)
May they be like grass on the roof,(W)
    which withers(X) before it can grow;
a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,(Y)
    nor one who gathers fill his arms.
May those who pass by not say to them,
    “The blessing of the Lord be on you;
    we bless you(Z) in the name of the Lord.”

Psalm 130

A song of ascents.

Out of the depths(AA) I cry to you,(AB) Lord;
    Lord, hear my voice.(AC)
Let your ears be attentive(AD)
    to my cry for mercy.(AE)

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
    Lord, who could stand?(AF)
But with you there is forgiveness,(AG)
    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.(AH)

I wait for the Lord,(AI) my whole being waits,(AJ)
    and in his word(AK) I put my hope.
I wait for the Lord
    more than watchmen(AL) wait for the morning,
    more than watchmen wait for the morning.(AM)

Israel, put your hope(AN) in the Lord,
    for with the Lord is unfailing love(AO)
    and with him is full redemption.(AP)
He himself will redeem(AQ) Israel
    from all their sins.(AR)