Psalm 125-127

Common English Bible

125 The people who trust in the Lord
    are like Mount Zion:
    never shaken, lasting forever.
² Mountains surround Jerusalem.
    That’s how the Lord surrounds his people
    from now until forever from now!
³ The wicked rod won’t remain
in the land given to the righteous
    so that they don’t use their hands to do anything wrong.^[a]
4 Lord, do good to people who are good,
    to people whose hearts are right.
⁵ But as for those people who turn to their own twisted ways—
    may the Lord march them off with other evildoers!

126 When the Lord changed Zion’s circumstances for the better,
    it was like we had been dreaming.
² Our mouths were suddenly filled with laughter;
    our tongues were filled with joyful shouts.
It was even said, at that time, among the nations,
    “The Lord has done great things for them!”
³ Yes, the Lord has done great things for us,
    and we are overjoyed.

127 Unless it is the Lord who builds the house,
    the builders’ work is pointless.
Unless it is the Lord who protects the city,
    the guard on duty is pointless.
² It is pointless that you get up early and stay up late,
    eating the bread of hard labor
    because God gives sleep to those he loves.