The Lord the Strength of His People

A Song of Ascents.

125 Those who trust in the Lord
Are like Mount Zion,
Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the Lord surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever.

For (A)the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
On the land allotted to the righteous,
Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.

Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,
And to those who are upright in their hearts.

As for such as turn aside to their (B)crooked ways,
The Lord shall lead them away
With the workers of iniquity.

(C)Peace be upon Israel!

A Joyful Return to Zion

A Song of Ascents.

126 When (D)the Lord brought back [a]the captivity of Zion,
(E)We were like those who dream.
Then (F)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.”
The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.

Bring back our captivity, O Lord,
As the streams in the South.

(G)Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
He who continually goes [c]forth weeping,
Bearing [d]seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again [e]with (H)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 (I)the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To (J)eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.

Behold, (K)children are a heritage from the Lord,
(L)The fruit of the womb is a (M)reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
(N)Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
(O)They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 126:1 Those of the captivity
  2. Psalm 126:2 Gentiles
  3. Psalm 126:6 to and fro
  4. Psalm 126:6 Lit. a bag of seed for sowing
  5. Psalm 126:6 with shouts of joy

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