Psalm 126-128

New American Standard Bible

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.
²Then 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.”
³The Lord has done great things for us;
We are ^(F)joyful.

⁴Restore our fortunes, Lord,
As the ^[b]^(G)streams in the ^[c]South.
⁵Those who sow in ^(H)tears shall harvest with ^(I)joyful shouting.
⁶One 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.

Prosperity Comes from the Lord.

A Song of Ascents, of Solomon.

127 Unless the Lord ^(J)builds a house,
They who build it labor in vain;
Unless the Lord ^(K)guards a city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
²It is futile for you to rise up early,
To ^[d]stay up late,
To ^(L)eat the bread of painful labor;
This is how He gives to His ^(M)beloved ^(N)sleep.

³Behold, ^(O)children are a ^[e]gift of the Lord,
The ^(P)fruit of the womb is a reward.
⁴Like arrows in the hand of a ^(Q)warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
⁵^(R)Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
^(S)They will not be ashamed
When they ^(T)speak with their enemies ^(U)in the gate.

Blessedness of the Fear of the Lord.

A Song of Ascents.

128 ^(V)Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
Who ^(W)walks in His ways.
²When you ^(X)eat the ^(Y)fruit of the labor of your hands,
You will be happy and ^(Z)it will go well for you.
³Your wife will be like a ^(AA)fruitful vine
^[f]Within your house,
Your children like ^(AB)olive plants
Around your table.
⁴Behold, for so shall a man
Who fears the Lord be blessed.

⁵^(AC)The Lord bless you ^(AD)from Zion,
And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
⁶Indeed, may you see your ^(AE)children’s children.
^(AF)Peace be upon Israel!

Footnotes

Psalm 126:1 Or those who returned to
Psalm 126:4 Lit stream-beds
Psalm 126:4 Heb Negev
Psalm 127:2 Lit sit late
Psalm 127:3 Or heritage
Psalm 128:3 Lit In the innermost parts of

1 Corinthians 10:19-33

New American Standard Bible

¹⁹What do I mean then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or ^(A)that an idol is ^[a]anything? ²⁰No, but I say that things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they ^(B)sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with demons. ²¹^(C)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and ^(D)the table of demons. ²²Or do we ^(E)provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not ^(F)stronger than He, are we?

²³^(G)All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things ^[b]^(H)build people up. ²⁴No one is to ^(I)seek his own advantage, but rather that of his ^[c]neighbor. ²⁵^(J)Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions, for the sake of conscience; ²⁶^(K)for the earth is the Lord’s, and ^[d]all it contains. ²⁷If ^(L)one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, ^(M)eat anything that is set before you without asking questions, for the sake of conscience. ²⁸But ^(N)if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of that one who informed you and for the sake of conscience; ²⁹Now by “conscience” I do not mean your own, but the other person’s; for ^(O)why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? ³⁰If I partake with thankfulness, ^(P)why am I slandered about that for which I ^(Q)give thanks?

³¹Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or ^(R)whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God. ³²^(S)Do not offend Jews or Greeks, or ^(T)the church of God; ³³just as I also ^(U)please everyone in all things, ^(V)not seeking my own benefit but the benefit of the many, ^(W)so that they may be saved.