Psalm 126

Zion’s Restoration

A song of ascents.

Solomon’s Later Building Projects

8 At the end of twenty years^(A) during which Solomon had built the Lord’s temple and his own palace— ² Solomon had rebuilt the cities Hiram^[a] gave him and settled Israelites there— ³ Solomon went to Hamath-zobah and seized it. ⁴ He built Tadmor in the wilderness along with all the storage cities that he built in Hamath. ⁵ He built Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon^(B)—fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars^(C)— ⁶ Baalath, all the storage cities that belonged to Solomon, all the chariot cities, the cavalry cities, and everything Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, or anywhere else in the land of his dominion.

⁷ As for all the peoples who remained of the Hethites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who were not from Israel^(D)— ⁸ their descendants who remained in the land after them, those the Israelites had not completely destroyed—Solomon imposed forced labor on them; it is this way today.^{(E) 9} But Solomon did not consign the Israelites to be slaves for his work; they were soldiers, commanders of his captains, and commanders of his chariots and his cavalry. ¹⁰ These were King Solomon’s deputies: 250 who supervised the people.

¹¹ Solomon brought the daughter of Pharaoh from the city of David to the house he had built for her,^(F) for he said, “My wife must not live in the house^[b] of King David of Israel because the places the ark of the Lord has come into are holy.”

Public Worship Established at the Temple

¹² At that time^(G) Solomon offered burnt offerings to the Lord on the Lord’s altar he had made in front of the portico.^{(H) 13} He followed the daily requirement^(I) for offerings according to the commandment of Moses^(J) for Sabbaths, New Moons, and the three annual appointed festivals: the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Shelters.^{(K) 14} According to the ordinances of his father David, he appointed the divisions of the priests over their service,^(L) of the Levites over their responsibilities to offer praise and to minister before the priests following the daily requirement,^(M) and of the gatekeepers by their divisions with respect to each temple gate,^(N) for this had been the command of David, the man of God.^{(O) 15} They did not turn aside from the king’s command regarding the priests and the Levites concerning any matter or concerning the treasuries.^{(P) 16} All of Solomon’s work was carried out from the day the foundation was laid for the Lord’s temple until it was finished. So the Lord’s temple was completed.

Solomon’s Fleet

¹⁷ At that time^(Q) Solomon went to Ezion-geber and to Eloth^(R) on the seashore in the land of Edom. ¹⁸ So Hiram^[c] sent ships to him by his servants along with crews of experienced seamen. They went with Solomon’s servants to Ophir, took from there seventeen tons^[d] of gold, and delivered it to King Solomon.^(S)

Advance of the Gospel

¹² Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel,^{(A) 13} so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ. ¹⁴ Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word^[a](B) fearlessly. ¹⁵ To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry,^(C) but others out of good will. ¹⁶ These preach out of love,^(D) knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; ¹⁷ the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition,^(E) not sincerely, thinking that they will cause me trouble in my imprisonment. ¹⁸ What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives^(F) or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice ¹⁹ because I know this will lead to my salvation^[b](G) through your prayers and help from the Spirit^(H) of Jesus Christ.^{(I) 20} My eager expectation and hope^(J) is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life^(K) or by death.^(L)