Psalm 127-129

Common English Bible

Psalm 127

A pilgrimage song. Of Solomon.

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.
²It 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.

³No doubt about it: children are a gift from the Lord;
    the fruit of the womb is a divine reward.
⁴The children born when one is young
    are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.
⁵The person who fills a quiver full with them is truly happy!
    They won’t be ashamed when arguing with their enemies in the gate.

Psalm 128

A pilgrimage song.

128 Everyone who honors the Lord,
who walks in God’s ways, is truly happy!

²You will definitely enjoy what you’ve worked hard for—
    you’ll be happy; and things will go well for you.
³In your house, your wife will be like a vine full of fruit.
    All around your table, your children will be like olive trees, freshly planted.
⁴That’s how it goes for anyone who honors the Lord:
    they will be blessed!

⁵May the Lord bless you from Zion.
May you experience Jerusalem’s goodness your whole life long.
⁶ And may you see your grandchildren.

Peace be on Israel!

Psalm 129

A pilgrimage song.

129 From youth, people have constantly attacked me—
    let Israel now repeat!—
²    from youth people have constantly attacked me—
    but they haven’t beaten me!
³They plowed my back like farmers;
    they made their furrows deep.
⁴But the Lord is righteous—
    God cut me free from the ropes of the wicked!

⁵Let everyone who hates Zion be ashamed, thoroughly frustrated.
⁶    Let them be like grass on a roof
    that dies before it can be pulled up,
⁷    which won’t fill the reaper’s hand
        or fill the harvester’s arms.
⁸Let no one who passes by say to them:
    “May the Lord’s blessing be on you!
        We bless you in the Lord’s name!”