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Psalm 126

A song of ascents.

When the Lord restored(A) the fortunes of[a] Zion,
    we were like those who dreamed.[b]
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.”
The Lord has done great things(E) for us,
    and we are filled with joy.(F)

Restore our fortunes,[c](G) Lord,
    like streams in the Negev.(H)
Those who sow with tears(I)
    will reap(J) with songs of joy.(K)
Those who go out weeping,(L)
    carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
    carrying sheaves with them.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 126:1 Or Lord brought back the captives to
  2. Psalm 126:1 Or those restored to health
  3. Psalm 126:4 Or Bring back our captives

Thanksgiving for Return from Captivity.

A Song of Ascents.

126 When the Lord (A)brought back [a]the captives of Zion,
We were (B)like those who dream.
Then our (C)mouth was filled with laughter
And our (D)tongue with joyful shouting;
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has (E)done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us;
We are (F)joyful.

Restore our fortunes, Lord,
As the [b](G)streams in the [c]South.
Those who sow in (H)tears shall harvest with (I)joyful shouting.
One who goes here and there weeping, carrying his bag of seed,
Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 126:1 Or those who returned to
  2. Psalm 126:4 Lit stream-beds
  3. Psalm 126:4 Heb Negev

(A song for worship.)

Celebrating the Harvest

It seemed like a dream
when the Lord brought us back
    to the city of Zion.[a]
We celebrated with laughter
    and joyful songs.
In foreign nations it was said,
“The Lord has worked miracles
    for his people.”
And so we celebrated
because the Lord had indeed
    worked miracles for us.

Our Lord, we ask you to bless
    our people again,
and let us be like streams
    in the Southern Desert.
We cried as we went out
    to plant our seeds.
Now let us celebrate
    as we bring in the crops.
We cried on the way
    to plant our seeds,
but we will celebrate and shout
    as we bring in the crops.

Footnotes

  1. 126.1 brought … Zion: Or “made the city of Zion prosperous again.”

A Harvest of Joy

A Song of Ascents.

126 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,[a]
    we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
    and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
    “The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us;
    we are glad.

Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
    like the watercourses in the Negeb!
May those who sow in tears
    reap with shouts of joy!
He that goes forth weeping,
    bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
    bringing his sheaves with him.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 126:1 Or brought back those who returned to Zion