Psalm 126-130
Complete Jewish Bible
126 (0) A song of ascents:
(1) When Adonai restored Tziyon’s fortunes,
we thought we were dreaming.
2 Our mouths were full of laughter,
and our tongues shouted for joy.
Among the nations it was said,
“Adonai has done great things for them!”
3 Adonai did do great things with us;
and we are overjoyed.
4 Return our people from exile, Adonai,
as streams fill vadis in the Negev.
5 Those who sow in tears
will reap with cries of joy.
6 He who goes out weeping
as he carries his sack of seed
will come home with cries of joy
as he carries his sheaves of grain.
127 (0) A song of ascents. By Shlomo:
(1) Unless Adonai builds the house,
its builders work in vain.
Unless Adonai guards the city,
the guard keeps watch in vain.
2 In vain do you get up early
and put off going to bed,
working hard to earn a living;
for he provides for his beloved,
even when they sleep.
3 Children too are a gift from Adonai;
the fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 The children born when one is young.
are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.
5 How blessed is the man
who has filled his quiver with them;
he will not have to be embarrassed
when contending with foes at the city gate.
128 (0) A song of ascents:
(1) How happy is everyone who fears Adonai,
who lives by his ways.
2 You will eat what your hands have produced;
you will be happy and prosperous.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
in the inner parts of your house.
Your children around the table will be
like shoots from an olive tree.
4 This is the kind of blessing that will fall
on him who fears Adonai.
5 May Adonai bless you from Tziyon!
May you see Yerushalayim prosper
all the days of your life,
6 and may you live to see your children’s children!
Shalom on Isra’el.
129 (0) A song of ascents:
(1) Since I was young they have often attacked me —
let Isra’el repeat it —
2 since I was young they have often attacked me,
but they haven’t overcome me.
3 The plowmen plowed on my back;
wounding me with long furrows.
4 But Adonai is righteous;
he cuts me free from the yoke of the wicked.
5 Let all who hate Tziyon
be thrown back in confusion.
6 Let them be like grass on the roof,
which dries out before it grows up
7 and never fills the reaper’s hands
or the arms of the one who binds sheaves,
8 so that no passer-by says,
“Adonai’s blessing on you!
We bless you in the name of Adonai!”
130 (0) A song of ascents. By David:
(1) Adonai, I call to you from the depths;
2 hear my cry, Adonai!
Let your ears pay attention
to the sound of my pleading.
3 Yah, if you kept a record of sins,
who, Adonai, could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that you will be feared.
5 I wait longingly for Adonai;
I put my hope in his word.
6 Everything in me waits for Adonai
more than guards on watch wait for morning,
more than guards on watch wait for morning.
7 Isra’el, put your hope in Adonai!
For grace is found with Adonai,
and with him is unlimited redemption.
8 He will redeem Isra’el
from all their wrongdoings.
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.
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
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