Psalm 125-129 New American Standard Bible

The Lord Surrounds His People.

A Song of Ascents.

125 Those who trust in the Lord
Are like Mount Zion, which ^(A)cannot be moved but ^(B)remains forever.
²As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So ^(C)the Lord surrounds His people
^(D)From this time and forever.
³For the ^(E)scepter of wickedness will not rest upon the ^[a]land of the righteous,
So that the righteous ^(F)will not extend their hands to do wrong.

⁴^(G)Do good, Lord, to those who are good
And to those who are ^(H)upright in their hearts.
⁵But as for those who ^(I)turn aside to their ^(J)crooked ways,
The Lord will lead them away with those who ^(K)practice injustice.
^(L)Peace be upon Israel.

Thanksgiving for Return from Captivity.

A Song of Ascents.

126 When the Lord ^(M)brought back ^[b]the captives of Zion,
We were ^(N)like those who dream.
²Then our ^(O)mouth was filled with laughter
And our ^(P)tongue with joyful shouting;
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has ^(Q)done great things for them.”
³The Lord has done great things for us;
We are ^(R)joyful.

⁴Restore our fortunes, Lord,
As the ^[c]^(S)streams in the ^[d]South.
⁵Those who sow in ^(T)tears shall harvest with ^(U)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 ^(V)builds a house,
They who build it labor in vain;
Unless the Lord ^(W)guards a city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
²It is futile for you to rise up early,
To ^[e]stay up late,
To ^(X)eat the bread of painful labor;
This is how He gives to His ^(Y)beloved ^(Z)sleep.

³Behold, ^(AA)children are a ^[f]gift of the Lord,
The ^(AB)fruit of the womb is a reward.
⁴Like arrows in the hand of a ^(AC)warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
⁵^(AD)Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
^(AE)They will not be ashamed
When they ^(AF)speak with their enemies ^(AG)in the gate.

Blessedness of the Fear of the Lord.

A Song of Ascents.

128 ^(AH)Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
Who ^(AI)walks in His ways.
²When you ^(AJ)eat the ^(AK)fruit of the labor of your hands,
You will be happy and ^(AL)it will go well for you.
³Your wife will be like a ^(AM)fruitful vine
^[g]Within your house,
Your children like ^(AN)olive plants
Around your table.
⁴Behold, for so shall a man
Who fears the Lord be blessed.

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

Prayer for the Overthrow of Zion’s Enemies.

A Song of Ascents.

129 “^[h]Many times they have ^(AS)attacked me from my ^(AT)youth up,”
^(AU)Let Israel say,
²“^[i]Many times they have attacked me from my youth up;
Yet they have ^(AV)not prevailed against me.
³The plowers plowed upon my back;
They lengthened their furrows.”
⁴The Lord ^(AW)is righteous;
He has cut up the ^(AX)ropes of the wicked.

⁵May all who ^(AY)hate Zion
Be ^(AZ)put to shame and turned backward;
⁶May they be like ^(BA)grass upon the housetops,
Which withers before it ^[j]grows up;
⁷With which the harvester does not fill his ^[k]hand,
Or the binder of sheaves his ^[l]^(BB)arms;
⁸Nor do those who pass by say,
“The ^(BC)blessing of the Lord be upon you;
We bless you in the name of the Lord.”