Psalm 126-128

New King James Version

A Joyful Return to Zion

A Song of Ascents.

126 When ^(A)the Lord brought back ^[a]the captivity of Zion,
^(B)We were like those who dream.
²Then ^(C)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.”
³The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.

⁴Bring back our captivity, O Lord,
As the streams in the South.

⁵^(D)Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
⁶He who continually goes ^[c]forth weeping,
Bearing ^[d]seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again ^[e]with ^(E)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 ^(F)the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
²It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To ^(G)eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.

³Behold, ^(H)children are a heritage from the Lord,
^(I)The fruit of the womb is a ^(J)reward.
⁴Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
⁵^(K)Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
^(L)They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Blessings of Those Who Fear the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

128 Blessed ^(M)is every one who fears the Lord,
Who walks in His ways.

²^(N)When you eat the ^[f]labor of your hands,
You shall be happy, and it shall be ^(O)well with you.
³Your wife shall be ^(P)like a fruitful vine
In the very heart of your house,
Your ^(Q)children ^(R)like olive plants
All around your table.
⁴Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the Lord.

⁵^(S)The Lord bless you out of Zion,
And may you see the good of Jerusalem
All the days of your life.
⁶Yes, may you ^(T)see your children’s children.

^(U)Peace be upon Israel!

Footnotes

Psalm 126:1 Those of the captivity
Psalm 126:2 Gentiles
Psalm 126:6 to and fro
Psalm 126:6 Lit. a bag of seed for sowing
Psalm 126:6 with shouts of joy
Psalm 128:2 Fruit of the labor

1 Corinthians 10:19-33

New King James Version

¹⁹What am I saying then? ^(A)That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? ²⁰Rather, that the things which the Gentiles ^(B)sacrifice ^(C)they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. ²¹^(D)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and ^(E)the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the ^(F)Lord’s table and of the table of demons. ²²Or do we ^(G)provoke the Lord to jealousy? ^(H)Are we stronger than He?

All to the Glory of God^(I)

²³All things are lawful ^[a]for me, but not all things are ^(J)helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things ^[b]edify. ²⁴Let no one seek his own, but each one ^(K)the other’s well-being.

²⁵^(L)Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; ²⁶for ^(M)“the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”

²⁷If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, ^(N)eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. ²⁸But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it ^(O)for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; ^[c]for ^(P)“the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” ²⁹“Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For ^(Q)why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? ³⁰But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food ^(R)over which I give thanks?

³¹^(S)Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ³²^(T)Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, ³³just ^(U)as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.