Tehillim 126-130

Orthodox Jewish Bible

126 Ascents]) When Hashem brought the return of the captivity of Tziyon, we were like the cholemim (them that dream).

² Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and leshoneinu (our tongue) with rinnah (Shir HaMa’alot, [Song of (joyful song); then said they among the Goyim, Hashem hath done great things for them.

³ Hashem hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

⁴ Return our captivity and restore our fortunes, Hashem, like torrents in the Negev.

⁵ They that sow in dimah (tears) shall reap in rinnah (joyful song).

⁶ He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing meshek hazara (seed to be sown) shall doubtless come again with rinnah, bearing his alummot (sheaves [of harvest]).

127 (Shir HaMa’alot, of Shlomo). Except Hashem build the bais, they that build it labor in vain; except Hashem is shomer over the city, the shomair (watchman) stands guard in vain.

² It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the lechem ha’atzavim (bread of toils); for so He giveth his beloved sleep.

³ Hinei, banim are nachalat Hashem; and the p’ri habeten is a zachar (reward).

⁴ As khitzim (arrows) are in the yad of a gibbor; so are bnei haneurim (children born in one’s youth).

⁵ Ashrei hagever that hath his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the oyevim basha’ar (enemy at the gate).

128 (Shir HaMa’alot) Ashrei kol yerei (fearers of) Hashem; that walketh in His drakhim.

² For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands; happy shalt thou be, and it shall be tov with thee.

³ Thy isha shall be as a fruitful gefen inside thine bais; thy banim like olive shoots around thy shulchan.

⁴ Hinei, thus shall the gever be blessed that feareth Hashem.

⁵ Hashem shall bless thee out of Tziyon; and thou shalt see the tov of Yerushalayim all the days of thy life.

⁶ Yea, thou shalt see thy bnei banim, and shalom upon Yisroel.

129 (Shir HaMa’alot) Many a time have they afflicted me from my ne’ur, may Yisroel now say;

² Many a time have they afflicted me from my ne’ur (youth); yet they have not prevailed against me.

³ The choreshim (plowers) plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows.

⁴ Hashem is tzaddik; He hath cut asunder the cords of the resha’im.

⁵ Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Tziyon [i.e, all anti-Semites].

⁶ Let them be as the khatzir (grass) upon the housetops, which withereth before it groweth up;

⁷ With it the kotzer (reaper) filleth not his yad; nor he that gathereth sheaves, his bosom.

⁸ Neither do they which go by say, Birkat Hashem be upon you; we bless you b’Shem Hashem.

130 (Shir HaMa’alot) Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, Hashem.

² Adonoi, hear my voice; let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my techinnot (supplications).

³ If Thou, Hashem, shouldest record iniquities, Adonoi, who could stand?

⁴ But there is selichah (forgiveness) with Thee; therefore, Thou art feared.

⁵ I wait for Hashem, my nefesh doth wait, and in His Devar do I hope.

⁶ My nefesh waiteth for Adonoi more than the shomrim that watch for the boker; I say, more than the shomrim that watch for the boker.

⁷ Let Yisroel hope in Hashem; for with Hashem there is chesed, and with Him is plenteous pedut (redemption).

⁸ And He shall redeem Yisroel from all his iniquities.